Kisii County Government 1

An Official Publication of Kisii County Government

The Home of Soapstone and Bananas

Embracing Public Investment Opportunities Gallant Sons and Daughters

Participation of Kisii
PAGE PAGE PAGE
9 28 30
2 Kisii County Government

Kisii Town

Devolution Transforming Kisii County
H.E. Hon. James E.O. Ongwae, CBS, EBS, OGW,
Governor, Kisii County
This is the surest way to
better serve our people
I
n 2013, the Governor
and I took over the
mantle of leadership in
Kisii County. We sought to
put structures in place and
promote a good system of
governance.
Clearly, devolved gover-
nance is the surest way
to bring services and re-
sources closer to the peo-
ple. As pioneer leaders of
the County Government
in Kisii, we recognise our
obligation to maintain
the highest standards of
service delivery and craft
H.E. Hon. Joash Maangi,MBS, innovative ways to attract
Deputy Governor investment. Only then can
we realise the aspirations
of residents.
I would like to assure the residents of this great County that we are firm-
ly committed to delivering on our mandate. But to do this, we need the
support of all stakeholders. I urge that we exercise patriotism and work
towards the betterment of our beloved county for present and future gen-
erations.
I call upon the County Public Service to strive to discharge their duty with
honesty, diligence and accountability to our employer, the public. I also
thank the County Assembly and the leadership of Kisii for the spirit of
teamwork and dedication, which have been key in the realisation of the
achievements we are showcasing today.
God bless Kisii County.
Together with 12 other counties, we have formed the Lake Basin
Region Economic Bloc to spur economic development of our
respective counties
I
t has been an exciting yet chal-
lenging journey at the helm of Kisii
County Government since we were
sworn into office as the pioneer lead-
ership of the devolved county number
45.
Residents bestowed on me the im-
mense responsibility of laying the
foundation for the long-term growth
of a county with great potential, a
county that is on track to transform
the lives of its residents as a 24-hour
economy.
Kisii has been on a progressive jour-
ney through devolution. We have
improved education standards and
increased funding for bursary to
KShs430million to help needy stu-
dents.
We have recruited over 950 Early
Childhood Development (ECD) teach-
ers and built classrooms to lay a foun-
dation for good education for our
children.
We have done over 1,000 kilometres
of road network and continue to open
up more using county-owned con-
struction equipment.
In the health sector, we have hired
more medical workers, while hospi-
tals which previously had no doctors,
now boast of at least two to three
practitioners in the facilities. We have
resuscitated theatres in Nyamache,
Keumbu, Gesusu and Gucha hospitals.
Further, the county government re-
vamped and upgraded the Kisii Level
5 Hospital to a teaching and referral
hospital in collaboration with Kisii
University.
We embarked on a major facelift of
the facility that included renovation
of the kitchen to use gas instead of
firewood; establishment of a 10-bed
“By and large, devolution is changing our country in
ways few imagined…People are taking control of their
destiny. Devolution has come with a new boss; the people.
Development is what the people say it should be.”
Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga,EGH
Leader of Opposition - CORD (Coalition for Reforms and
Kisii County Government 3
renal unit to offer dialysis services; will have a capacity to crush 5,000
installation of state-of-the-art diag- tonnes of cane per day and produce
nostic equipment like a 16 slice CT 172,500 metric tonnes of sugar. Ad-
Scan, digital x-rays and MRI; increas- ditionally, the sugar complex will pro-
ing the hospital’s bed capacity from duce 15 million litres of ethanol and
450 to 700; and construction of a 10 megawatts of power.
hostel block. We are now putting up
Equally in the pipeline is a new Kisii
a new 100-body capacity mortuary
City, which is going to be built in part-
to replace the current 20-body ca-
nership with Chinese investors.
pacity morgue. In addition, we have
put up an administration block for Together with 12 other counties, we
the staff, which has freed space to have formed the Lake Basin Region
accommodate the High Dependency Economic Bloc to spur economic de-
and Intensive Care units. Currently, velopment of our respective counties.
construction works for a KShs2.1 bil- Despite the challenges, ranging from
lion cancer centre are ongoing. The disruptive politics to irregular dis-
project is being funded by the Saudi bursement of funds from the Exche-
government and the Arab Bank for In- quer, the county has strived to and
ternational Development. continues to deliver on its mandate.
To increase access to safe, clean The Council of Governors however is
addressing the challenge of irregular
water to residents and support agri-
disbursements of funds from the Na-
culture, the county launched a pro-
tional Treasury.
gramme to drill boreholes in each
of the 45 wards. The boreholes are Overall, Kisii County is an unrivalled
located in public institutions and fit- investment destination and a key
ted with handpumps. The plan is to commercial hub for the region. We
develop the boreholes into water re- continue to live the dream of devolu-
ticulation schemes to serve residents
tion. Join us on this journey.
near the public institutions. So far, 25
boreholes have been drilled.
To empower the county’s residents
To empower the
through wealth creation, we have
positioned Kisii as an investment
county’s residents
destination. This has been expedited
through continuous improvement of
through wealth
infrastructure and attracting inves-
tors through the Kisii Entrepreneur-
creation, we have
ship Summit, which showcased trade positioned Kisii
and investment opportunities.
as an investment
After the summit, we signed three
key agreements totalling KShs21 bil-
lion. We have signed an agreement
destination.
with an Indian investor for the estab-
lishment of a sugar complex in South
Mogirango sub-county. The sugar mill
“Devolution means the benefits of growth are
reaching many more Kenyans, as achievements
in the counties show. Kisii Town has a 24-hour
economy following the installation of 300 solar
lights.”
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta,CGH
President and the Commander in Chief of the
Defense Forces of Kenya
Democracy)
4 Kisii County Government
Hon. Christopher M. Obure, EGH
Senator - Kisii County
I Our dream is to make Kisii great
take this opportunity to congratulate the
Kisii County Government and the Governor
for the exemplary work done in entrenching
devolution in the county.  The gains brought by
devolution in Kisii County are evident and nu-
merous. The community enjoys better public
participation in decision making processes, be-
sides improved access to resources at the grass-
roots level because the organs of government
have been brought closer to the people.
The Senate is constitutionally mandated to rep-
resent counties. This mandate places the Senate
at the heart of efforts to ensure the success of
devolution.
The Senate does this by ensuring that coun-
ty governments are adequately resourced to
perform their functions as set out in the  Con-
stitution. There has beenn an increase in the
funds allocated to county governments from
the national shareable revenue over the past
three years from KShs210 billion in 2013/14 to
KShs302 billion in the current 2016/17 finan-
cial year. The total allocation to county gov-
ernments as at the end of the current financial
year will be KShs1 trillion. The Senate has also,
despite many challenges, done its best to over-
sight county governments to ensure that they
Hon. Mary Otara
Woman Representative
Ours is a success story in utilisation of State resources
T
he Senate determines the allocation of
revenue to counties as provided for in
Article 217 of the Constitution of Kenya,
2010. The Senate also exercises oversight over
national revenue allocated to county govern-
ments. In line with this mandate, distribution of
resources takes cognisant the role youth, wom-
Empowering citizens through self-governance
T
he advent of devolution ushered a new
dawn in the management of political
power and resources in Kenya. The ob-
ject of this new dispensation was to promote
democratic and accountable exercise of power
to foster national unity by recognising diversity.
Devolution also empowers people to benefit
from self-governance and encourages partici-
pation in the exercise of powers of the State
and in making decisions affecting them. Further,
the devolved system of government recognises
the right of communities to manage their own
affairs and to further their development.
Kisii County is strategically located, with easy
access and developed communication infra-
structure. Kisii Town has become the commer-
cial and financial hub of the entire southwest-
ern Kenya. With liberalisation and removal of
are accountable for the expenditure of funds
allocated to them.
In Kisii County, the equitable share of al-
located revenue raised nationally has risen
from KShs5,188,303,957 in the year 2013 to
KShs7,654,114,597 in the year 2016.  I am
very pleased to note that this revenue has been
utilised properly and key among these achieve-
ments are:
Improved health:  The transformation of the Ki-
sii hospital into a Teaching and Referral Hospi-
tal has improved service delivery in the health
sector. I am happy to note taht the hospital of-
fers kidney dialysis at the renal unit established
by the County Government.
We have also been tremendous improvements
in the care and staffing at our health centres
and in maternal child healthcare, including an-
tenatal and postnatal care for pregnant moth-
ers.
Emergency services: In Kisii, there are ambu-
lances and firefighting trucks that never existed
before the creation of the county government.
24-hour economy:  A street lighting programme
Working to achieve aspirations of Kisii residents
I
n 2010, Kenyans voted overwhelmingly for
a new constitution, marking a new era of
transformative government aimed at ben-
efiting Kenyans equitably in all corners of the
country. With the new constitution came new
levels of government and expanded political
representation to ensure the needs of vulner-
able groups are also fully catered for.
One such crucial position created by the new
constitution is that of County Woman Member
of Parliament. My intention as the Kisii County
MP is to ensure the realisation of long-term
solutions to address challenges that face the
people of Kisii. This includes ensuring, through
en and Persons with Disability (PWDs) play in
the country. Our role is to ensure this segment
of society is taken care of.
As senators, we participates in the oversight of
State officers by considering and determining
any resolutions
market and labour restrictions within the East
African Community, Kisii is poised to develop
strong networks into northern parts of neigh-
bouring Tanzania and the whole of the Lake Vic-
toria region markets.
Kisii is today characterised by one main fea-
ture - diminishing land parcels. In an area where
land is the principal resource which supports
livelihoods, you will appreciate what it means
to the people when land sizes are diminishing.
This poses an obvious threat to the lives of the
people and generations to come. What is re-
quired, in my view, is urgent transformation of
our way of life, to move away from traditional
methods of agriculture and embrace new and
modern technologies which will help improve
productivity on our smaller land parcels.
This is a huge challenge for us, but it also opens
in the county has seen to the installation of
streetlights in most of the key towns in the sub-
counties. This has improved security and busi-
nesses are now operating in a 24-hour econo-
my. The county government, I note, has created
more employment opportunities and devolved
offices to the wards as per its constitutional
mandate to serve our community better. The
affirmative fund to the counties has helped
small and micro-enterprises and I hope that this
can be increased so that more women, youths
and persons with disabilities can benefit. It is a
fact that women, persons with disabilities and
youth are integral to the success of devolution
and I urge the county government to address
gender inequalities when offering opportuni-
ties to spur economic growth.
The county government’s initiative to boost
investor confidence in various forums is wel-
come and the Kisii Entrepreneurship Summit as
a milestone.
The Senate shall continue to be the guardian
angel of devolution in protecting the counties,
and that is why we have passed a record of 55
Bills concerning county governments, which
legislation and policy formulation, that a major-
ity of the population has affordable access to
basic needs and rights.
We should not wait for conditions to improve in
the county to create opportunities. Instead, we
should make that change by contributing as a
community to the development of our county’s
economy.
Therefore, enabling more people of Kisii County
to participate in the county’s economic growth
through a more favorable support environment
will generate more social and economic ben-
efits to the economy. There is need to support
the people of Kisii County to realise their aspira-
We want to applaud the Kisii County for being
a success story in utilisation of State resources.
Regardless of political affiliation, we continue
to participate in ensuring that services are eco-
nomical, efficient and effectively provided to
all without fear or favour.
a window of opportunity for potential investors
in the field of agribusiness. By partnering with
us, you will be helping us transform our lives,
you will be helping our people to achieve higher
productivity and earnings from their farms. This
direction will lead towards job creation and
greater prosperity.
There are numerous investment opportunities
in processing and value addition of agricultural
produce like tea, coffee, bananas, pyrethrum,
milk, avocados, name it. In addition, there are
many other opportunities in other sectors such
as healthcare, exploitation of natural resources
(for example Kisii soapstone), energy genera-
tion, water harvesting, and waste recycling and
management among others.
Let us join hands as we build our county and
offer valuable service to our people.
Hon. Janet Ong’era
Senate Minority Deputy Whip
legislation, once enacted, will have the overall
goal of transforming and empowering the lives
of our people.
Like the Akan Sankofa bird, let us reclaim our
rich cultural heritage by remembering our
heroes and heroines and the rich heritage of
our culture, so that we can move forward in
deeply grounded roots as Omogusii to enable
us understand why and how we came to be
who we are today.
tions as individuals and as a community. This is
a priority in my political agenda.
As we work towards development projects, it is
important that the people of Kisii County note
that I am working towards more initiatives that
will create a platform to empower our people.
As we improve on what is already in place, let’s
work towards fulfilling the main objective of
devolution, which is to focus on bringing re-
sources to the people by promoting socio-eco-
nomic development and providing easily and
accessible services throughout Kenya.
God bless you all, God bless Kisii County!
Hon. Hosea Ochwang’i
Nominated Senator
 content
Kisii County Government 5

6| Building a robust legislative institution

8| Destination Kisii: Explore, invest and prosper
9| Embracing Public Participation

10| HEALTH
Improving healthcare services

10 13 14 12| KShs2.1 billion cancer treatment centre in Kisii

to benefit millions

13| ROADS
Journeys now shorter with better roads

14| WATER
Availing safe water for all

15| FINANCE
Ensuring prudent financial management

16| GOVERNOR’S Q&A

Making devolution deliver for Kisii residents

18| AGRICULTURE

18 20 22 Championing innovative agriculture

20| ADMINISTRATION
Bringing service delivery closer to Kisii people

21| INVESTMENT
Bodaboda initiative empowers the youth
21| Private investor wins big with KShs200m eye
hospital

22| CULTURE
Nurturing culture, sports and youth talent

23| EDUCATION
Honing vocational skills for employment

23 24 25 24| TRADE, TOURISM AND INDUSTRY

Positioning Kisii to attract investments

25| LANDS AND HOUSING

This magazine is printed and Planning urban areas to spur economic growth
Editor Design and Layout Photography
published as a partneship 26| Nyantika the barefoot runner who made history
Paul Omondi SAVVY MEDIA (K) LIMITED Denish Ochieng
between Kisii County David Ohito John Mogaka at the world stage
Government and The Standard Writers Kisii County Government
Group Limited County Poa Art Director Onchari Kenani Standard Group Limited Archives
Initiative Williab Habwe Maseme Machuka 27| FEATURE
Kenan Miruka Traditional African Rock Art
John Oywa 27| A sweet story of banana crisps
Erick Abuga

28| INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

29| Empowering women, girls and the vulnerable

Kisii County Advisory Team 30| Some gallant sons and daughters of Kisii

Kisii County Editorial Team

Maseme Machuka Kenan Miruka

Director Deputy Director
Communication Communication
Johnstone Ndege Onchari Kenani John Nyamiobo Henry Nyanchoka Patrick Chogo
County Secretary Economic Advisor Political Advisor Chief of Staff Head of Special Programmes
6 Kisii County Government

Building a robust legislative institution

T
he County Government consists of two
arms that are distinct but complementary
in nature; the Executive which imple-
ments the county development agenda, and the
Legislature which is vested with the mandate to
legislate, represent the electorate and oversight
the county Executive and its organs.
As the pioneer Speaker of the Kisii County As-
sembly, I am proud of the tremendous progress
we have made in the last three and half years of
devolution.
Hon. Kerosi Ondieki,
Speaker Kisii County Assembly
We have progressively built a robust legislative
institution, amid the myriad of challenges that
come with devolved units. When we started, the
infrastructure in place was wanting. We had to
put in place appropriate infrastructure to help us
deliver on our mandate.
In exercising its oversight role, the County As-
sembly continues to actively ensure that the
County Executive Committee, all departments
and agencies of the County Executive, carry out
their mandate effectively in accordance with the
Constitution, national and county laws.
The Assembly has entrenched public participa-
tion in the legislative process where citizens give
ideas and opinions on bills tabled for debate. In
spite of the considerable progress realised so far,
a lot has to be done to overcome the existing
challenges. Indeed, we have, and continue to
collaborate with various development partners
as we seek means to address these challenges.

Hon. James Nyaoga Hon. Evans Mokoro

Clerk- Kisii County Assembly Deputy Speaker Kisii County
Assembly
KISII COUNTY ASSEMBLY There is also a functional and active Liaison

T
he Constitution of Kenya, 2010 buttress-
es devolution as a sytem of governance.
County assemblies find provision under Ar-
ticle 176 (1) of the Constitution.
The Honourable speaker was elected in the first
sitting of the house and thereafter, the County
Assembky Service Board was constituted in line
with Section 12 (7) of the County Governments
Act, 2012.
The house is comprised of 71 members including
45 elected ward reps and 26 nominated to meet
constitutional requirements on gender, youth,
minorities, marginalised groups and Persons with
Disability.
Institutional Framework
The County Assembly Service Board is fully con-
stituted and functional. The Board appointed a
substantive Clerk of the Assembly and recruited
staff with diverse competencies and skills for all
directorates to enhance service delivery. These
are:
i. Human Resources Management
ii. Administrative Services
iii. Chamber and Procedural Services
iv. Finance and Budget
v. Information and Research Services
vi. Legal and Litigation Services
The committee system
The County Assembly constituted sectoral and
select committees as required by the Standing
Orders. The committees are fully operational.
These include:
i. Lands, Physical Planning, Urban Development
and Housing Committee
ii. Health Services Committee
iii. Labour and Social Welfare
iv. Children, Culture and Community Services
v. Justice and Legal Affairs
vi. Early Childhood and Vocational Training
vii. Agriculture Environment, Water and Natural
Resources
viii. Planning, Trade, Tourism and Cooperatives
ix. Transport and Public Works
x. Public Investment and Accounts
xi. Budget and Appropriations
xii. Committee on Implementation
Committee that brings together all chairmen of
committees that continuously ensures effective
coordination of committees’ operations.
Mandate
The Assembly’s core functions include legislat-
ing, oversight and representation. Article 185
of the Constitution and Section 8 of the County
Government Act, 2012; spell out the roles of the
County Assembly. These are:
(a) Representation
(b) Legislation
(c) Oversight ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP
Milestones
1. Infrastructure development
The County Assembly has put up physical infra-
structure to facilitate the effective discharge of
the Assembly’s mandate. We refurbished and
digitised the debating chamber. We have also
successfully completed construction of two of-
fice blocks and committee rooms, within the
County Assembly precincts for Members of the
County Assembly (MCAs) and staff. In addition,
the County Assembly has constructed an in Hon. Protus Moindi Hon. Daniel Apepo
Majority Leader Leader of Minority
house cafeteria for members and staff.
2. Human resources
Through the County Assembly Service Board, we
have recruited and deployed staff at the head-
quarters and in all 45 ward offices. Installation
and commissioning of Hansard and broadcasting
equipment, complemented by a vibrant ICT unit,
has made it possible for the County Assembly to
accord our stakeholders access to County As-
sembly proceedings.
Hon. Shem Ondara Hon. Kemunto Machuka Hon. Peter Omari
3. Support to the Executive
Deputy Majority Deputy Majority Leader Deputy Minority
The Kisii County Assembly continues to support Leader Leader
the County Executive by ensuring that all County
legislation, policies and plans that support the
efficient delivery of services, attract investment
and support the County development agenda
are expeditiously debated, passed and adopted
or enacted into Law.
To date the Assembly has successfully debated
and passed 36 Bills that have been enacted into
Law. Currently, there are 16 Bills at various stag-
es of the legislative process before the County
Assembly. We shall endeavour to have these Bills
passed and enacted into law by the end of this
Hon. Henry Moracha Hon. John Ombati Hon. Francis Aburi Hon. Robert Siocha
year. Majority Whip Deputy Majority Whip Minority Whip Deputy Minority Whip
 Kisii County Government 7

Members of Kisii County Assembly

Hon. Vincent Getene Hon. Geoffrey Nyamache Hon. Catherine Manzi Hon. Wilfred Monyenye Hon. Timothy Ogugu Hon. Timothy Nyarango Hon. Joash Orora Hon. Samwel Onuko Hon. Samwel Nyangenya Hon. Samwel Apoko
Nyatieko Ward Birongo Ward Bomachoge Bassi Ward Kisii Central Ward Magenche Ward Sengera Bosoti Ward Masimba Ward Boochi Borabu Ward Bobaracho Ward Kiogoro Ward

Hon. Samson Nyagaka Hon. Sammy Keronche Hon. Koina Onyancha Hon. Ronald Onduso Hon. Alfred Onguti Hon. Richard Machana Hon. Reuben Moreka Hon. Albert Oino Hon. Pius Abuki Hon. Phillip Motonu
Nyamasibi Ward Gesusu Ward Bombaba Ward Getenga Ward Ibeno Ward Bogiakumu Ward Bogetenga Ward Chitago Borabu Ward Kitutu Central Ward Riana Ward

Hon. Kennedy Nyakundi Hon. Kennedy Mainya Hon. Isaiah Mosota Hon. Dennis Ombachi Hon. Henry Mariita Hon. Harun Masase Hon. George Bibao Hon. Evans Zico Hon. Edward Otuke Hon. Cosmas Saka
Keumbu Ward Kiamokama Ward Bobasi Boitang’are Ward Marani Ward Kegogi Ward Masige East Ward Bokimonge Ward Sameta Mokwerero Bogusero Ward Nyakoe Ward
Ward

Hon. Elkanah Nyandoro Hon. Charles Nyagoto Hon. Bonny Okenye Hon. Onchonga Saisi Hon. Onchonga Maina Hon. Esther Nyamwamu Hon. Kefa Manyura Hon. Jane Kananga Hon. Ochwangi Mengo Hon. Lucy Bosire
Boikang’a Ward Bogeka Ward Bogetaorio Ward Sensi Ward Monyerero Ward Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated

Hon. Christine Karemi Hon. Sabina Kennedy Hon. Anne Ghati Hon. Agnes Kwamboka Hon. Janifa Marube Hon. Tabitha Okongo Hon. Irene Nyamisa Hon. Lydia Okwoyo Hon. Alice Boyani Hon. Grace Ogonda
Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated

Hon. Phellister Metobo Hon. Nancy Ongeri Hon. Isabella Mose Hon. Norah Onyancha Hon. Joyce Isaac Hon. Josephine Ombati Hon. Grace Achoki Hon. Muslima Dida Hon. Isabella Oigara Hon. Margaret Nekesa
Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated
8 Kisii County Government
Hon. Zebedeo Opore
MP Bonchari
Destination Kisii: Explore, invest and prosper
The county’s administrative capital, Kisii Town, is a bubbling commercial hub characterised by busy streets where
commercial buildings jostle for space. This is indicative of the efforts of hardworking residents and Kisiis in the
Diaspora who continue to invest in the local economy
R
olling hills reach dramatically for the sky
while their green slopes sweep down to
the valleys teeming with vegetation and
animal life. The scenic ridges dissected by me-
andering rivers that drain into Lake Victoria to
the west, complement the beautiful landscape
that is Kisii County, home to soapstone and ba-
nanas.
With a population of an estimated 1.3 million
inhabitants and a population density of 997
inhabitants per square kilometre – one of the
highest in the country - Kisii County is blessed
with a ready market for finished products as
well as highly skilled human capital essential
for economic growth. By United Nations defi-
nition, Kisii County has an urban demography
,meaning it is one large urban area.
The county’s administrative capital, Kisii Town,
is a bubbling commercial hub characterised by
busy streets where commercial buildings jostle
for space. This is indicative of the efforts of
hardworking residents and Kisiis in the Diaspora
who continue to invest in the local economy.
Twenty-four commercial banks, 16 insurance
Kisii Town’s skyline is
changing at high speed
with highrise commercial
and residential buildings
sprouting to meet the
high demand for office
and residential space.
Members of the National Assembly
Hon.Stephen Manoti Hon. Joel Onyancha
MP Bobasi MP Bomachoge Borabu
Hon. Elijah Moindi Hon. Simeon Ogari
MP Nyaribari Masaba MP Bomachoge Chache
firms and 14 universities have presence in Kisii
Town, pointing to the immense business oppor-
tunities that exist in the county. Indeed, statis-
tics from the Central Bank of Kenya in Kisumu
indicate that Kisii controls 60 per cent of the
money market in the Nyanza region. The hospi-
tality industry has experienced a boom and Kisii
Town’s nightlife is unrivalled in the region.
Kisii Town’s skyline is changing at a high rate
with high-rise commercial and residential build-
ings sprouting to meet the high demand for of-
fice and residential space. Situated about 290
kilometres west of Nairobi, Kisii Town is a vital
gateway to the western tourist circuit owing
to its proximity to niche attractions like Ruma
National Park, Maasai Mara Game Reserve and
Hon.Jimmy Angwenyi
MP Kitutu Chache North
Hon. Richard Onyonka
MP Kitutu Chache South
Kisumu’s Impala Sanctuary.
Lying at altitudes of between 1,500 and 1,800
metres above sea level, Kisii County is a haven
of peace characterised by hospitable people. It
is a melting pot of cultures and religions, where
diverse communities live together in peace and
harmony. It covers an area of 1,317.5 square
kilometres.
The high rainfall received throughout the year
has led many to describe Kisii County as God’s
bathroom. With moderate temperatures all year
round, the county is suitable for cultivation of
crops like coffee, tea, sugarcane, maize, beans,
bananas, as well as livestock farming. The rich
agricultural produce from the farmlands is sold
Hon.Manson Nyamweya
MP South Mugirango
Hon.Richard Tong’i
MP Nyaribari Chache
in local, regional and international markets.
One of Kisii County’s key attractions is soap-
stone, a unique rock that has been mined in
Tabaka in South Mogirango Sub-County since
the 1880s. The rock renders itself for manipula-
tion to make a variety of figurines popular with
tourists as curios. Soapstone carvings from Kisii
are sold globally, while large sculptures carved
out of Kisii Stone adorn major world capitals,
including UNESCO headquarters in Paris and
the UN headquarters in New York City.
A visitor to the countryside in Kisii County will
encounter traditional African rock art at Sam-
eta and Gotichaki hills, with mystical features
that can also be found in the Atlas Mountains
and in the pyramids of Egypt.
Kisii County has also produced pioneer world-
beaters in the field of sports, especially in ath-
letics. It is home to middle and long-distance
runners such as Nyantika Mayioro, Charles
Asati, Hellen Obiri, Yobes Ondieki and Hezekiah
Nyamao.
In order to actualise the vision of transforming
Kisii County into a middle income economy, the
County Government is keen on leveraging its
rich agricultural potential to grow the economy
through value-addition by venturing into agro-
processing, branding and marketing of high
quality agricultural produce.
Devolution is now entrenched as a system of
Governance in Kisii. With an elaborate institu-
tional framework in place, the county has laid
ground for take off to ensure prosperity for all.
Welcome to Kisii County.
Explore, invest, prosper!

Embracing Public Participation:
Citizen engagement in devolved governance
Article 174c of the Constitution provides that one object of devolution is: “to give
powers of self-governance to the people and enhance their participation in the exercise
of the powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them”. Kisii County is
actualizing this provision.
What is the status of the
Sugar factory that was to
be set up in South Mogi-
rango? Is there goodwill
from the locals and the
County government to
have the factory?
Meshack Andama
We signed a Memorandum
of Understanding with
an Indian investor for the construction of a
KShs.5billion sugar complex in South Mogi-
rango. Once complete, the mill will have ca-
pacity to crush 5,000 tonnes of cane per day
and produce 172,500 metric tonnes of sugar.
This factory will create jobs for locals besides
addressing the marketing challenges of cane
farmers. We have already obtained preliminary
approvals and locals are continually involved in
the process so we have their goodwill.
You have spent consid-
erable good amount in
improving health services
in the county but service
delivery is rated lowly.
What are some of the
measures you have put
in place to boost morale
among medics? Could
you guarantee patients
better service delivery in
government hospitals within the county?
Nancy Kerubo - Medical Practitioner
A. First, service delivery has considerably im-
proved in our health sector. We are having con-
tinuous conversations with health workers to
ensure that service delivery is improved espe-
cially how they relate to the public.
The County has improved terms and conditions
of service for health workers, and recently we
promoted a number of them who had not been
promoted for over 15 years.
As you know, this is a continuous effort be-
cause service delivery is nebulous and it de-
pends on the eye of the beholder.
The very fact that we are now able to carry
out many diagnostic procedures that were not
available before is an indication of improved
service delivery.
These procedures include renal dialysis, CT
scan, MRI, cervical cancer screening and the-
atre services, not only at KTRH, but in outly-
ing health facilities. In many of our sub-county
hospitals, we now have at least 3 doctors
where there were either one of none.
What are some of the
projects that you have
initiated to boost the
youth and help reduce
the high unemployment
rates in the county?
Onesimus Mesesi- Busi-
nessman
We appreciate the critical
role of the youth in our so-
ciety. For this reason, we
have mainstreamed youth affairs in our devel-
opment agenda. We have come up with a pol-
icy on youth empowerment and I have already
signed into law a bill that allows the County to
disburse funds to the youth through the Kisii
County Trade Credit Scheme. We work closely
with the youth and support their activities. We
are also constructing workshops in our sub
counties to enhance training on artisan skills,
Kisii County Government 9
nomic development and this is why we have in-
vested heavily in improving our road network
over the past three years. However, due to the
heavy rains received in Kisii throughout the year
coupled with the hilly terrain, the compacted mur-
ram roads we have built deteriorate fast. To ad-
dress this, we have developed a road maintenance
policy where we shall use a labour based approach
to ensure regular maintenance of roads through-
out the year. Using road construction equipment
acquired by the County, we have embarked on an
ambitious program to open up new roads across
the County and so far, we have done about 400km
of roads.
The NHIF program was among the campaign
agendas in 2013, when is the County Govern-
ment going to roll out the program? Everline
Nyanchama - University student.
The NHIF support program was borne out of a
survey conducted in 2013 that revealed that out
of the 1.3 million residents of Kisii County, only
about 70,000 were subscribed to the scheme. This
means majority of our people cannot access quali-
ty healthcare. We developed regulations to opera-
tionalize the NHIF Support Act, 2014 and set aside
KShs.40million to be used in subscribing NHIF for
needy and selection of beneficiaries is currently
ongoing. We have already formed committees
at ward level and the program will kick off in the
next two months.
Is the Implementation of the
Modern Cancer Treatment
Centre project on course?
Why has it taken long to
have the project imple-
mented yet some donor had
shown interest in funding
crafts and technical training which will equip the same? Jared Mekenye -
our youth with skills that will enable them con- Laboratory Technologists.
tribute to economic development by making A. The project is on course. We
them self-reliant. plan to establish a KShs.2.1 billion modern cancer
treatment centre at the Kisii Teaching and Refer-
ral Hospital. The processing of project funding for
There is an increase in
such large funding takes time. The project was be-
the number of hawkers
ing funded jointly by two organizations, - the Arab
and traders along the
Bank of Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)
streets in Kisii Town. Are
and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). So far,
there plans to have a
it is only funding from BADEA that have been se-
large space to relocate
cured, but the money has not yet been released.
the traders to allow for
humble business space? The contract agreement for finding states that
we can only access the funds once both contract
Richard Nyabwari -
agreements have been signed. Once the funds
Mpesa attendant
from SFD are secured, then we will be able to ac-
- Kisii Town.
cess the funds to embark on implementation of
Yes; the number of traders in Kisii Town has the project. SFD have already indicated that they
increased over the past three years of our ex- are ready for negotiations so we expect to finalize
istence as County Government. There are chal- financing arrangements any time soon.
lenges in terms of getting ample space for all
traders and as a County Government, we have
Do you believe there is
plans to redress this. Firstly, working with the
goodwill from local leaders
National Government, we are modernizing Da-
to support the county gov-
raja Mbili Market to accommodate more trad-
ernment in implementing
ers. Already, a contractor is on site working
development projects? How
on completion of the stalled market building.
has politics hampered your
Secondly, we have built pedestrian walkways
development agenda in the
and opened up backstreet roads. Additionally,
we plan to build markets in the suburbs like Jo- past three years? Osoro
goo, Nyanchwa, Mwanyagetinge and Mwembe Okondo-Kuppet Chairman.
among other places. A. I would like to indicate
that I have a good working
relationship with our leaders and we hold regular
Roads construction has been a major
meetings to discuss matters development in the
achievement in your five-year term. Have
County. This is because the mwananchi we serve is
you put in place measures to ensure that
one and their expectation is service delivery above
these roads are always maintained? Does
all other considerations. There may be occasions
your government have plans to open more
of negative synergy but this is not unique to Ki-
roads across the county? Lameck Mokua.
sii. As a Governor, I have tried to separate politics
A. A good road network is essential for eco- from development.
10 Kisii County Government

Improving healthcare services

The county is committed to strengthening primary healthcare
in order to prevent both communicable and non-communicable
diseases.
Sarah Omache, HSC Alice Abuki
CEC Health Services Chief Officer
Health Services

H
ealth service delivery is a devolved function that is critical in the socio-economic de-
velopment of Kisii County. The department is mandated to provide county health ser-
vices, including:
• County health facilities and pharmacies
• Curative and rehabilitative health services
• Ambulance services
• Promotion of primary healthcare
Licensing and control of enterprises that sell food to the public, cemeteries, funeral parlours
and crematoria services
The main goal is to improve healthcare services to accord our people the highest possible
standard of medical care.
In the Lake Region Economic Bloc, Kisii County heads the health pillar, hence the 40 per cent
annual budget allocation to the sector.
Key achievements
Upgrading of Kisii Level 5 Hospital to teaching and referral status
The hospital was constructed in1916 to treat wounded soldiers during World War I. Follow- The County has completed piping to supply oxgen from the plant to all wards at KTRH. Surplus
ing the enactment of the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital Act, 2014, the hospital was oxygen from the plant is sold to private hospitals and facilities from other counties.
upgraded to a teaching and referral facility in collaboration with Kisii University. It also offers
training for Kenya Medical Training College students.
This upgrade means that Kisii County residents will be able to access specialised treatment at
lower costs. Being a research centre, Kisii Teacching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) will also be
able to attract more funding, besides improving healthcare provision due to evidence-based
medicine training. The hospital serves a catchment population of about six million people in
Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Homa Bay and parts of Narok, Bomet and Kericho counties.

Equipment
To aid in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of medical conditions, the county has in-
vested heavily in the purchase and installation of medical equipment in all health facilities.
(a) Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital

Equipment Before devolution After Devolution

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) None 6*
High Dependency Unit (HDU) None 3*
For the first time since 1917, KTRH can now offer kidney dialysis services at renal unit with 10
Renal machines None 10 machines installed by the County Government. The service is subsidized.
16 slice CT-scan None 1
Infrastructure development
Magnetic Resonance Imaging None 1 Since 2013 when the County Government was established, the health sector has undergone a major in-
(MRI) frastructure upgrade tremendous growth of infrastructure in our health facilities both at the Kisii Teach-
Image intensifier None 1 ing and Referral Hospital and other outlying facilities all over county. Some of the projects that have been
undertaken include: -
Orthopantomogram machine None 1 (a) Completed projects at KTRH
Digital x-ray None 1 1. Renovation and equipping of the kitchen
*Number of ICU and HDU beds to be operationalized 2. Renovation of the laundry block
3. Carpeting of the car park
4. Construction of hostel
5. Construction of oxygen production unit and piping to wards
(b) Ongoing projects at KTRH
1. New male ward
2. Ultra-modern mortuary/anatomy laboratory
3. Construction and digitalisation of new pharmaceutical store.

A worker inspects the Computerized Tomography (CT) scan machine installed at KTRH
to boost diagnostic services.

A hostel block built by the County Government at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital. It houses
A health worker inspects the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine installed at interns and visiting doctors on exchange programmes.
KTRH. It is the first public hospital hospital in western Kenya to offer MRI services.
 Kisii County Government 11

The 100 body capacity mortuary under construction at KTRH.

The facility with modern coolers will replace the current 20
body capacity mortuary (inset) and house an anatomy lab as Governor James Ongwae (right) inspects a surgical bed after commissioning a theatre
well as a funeral home. complex at Nyamache Sub County hospital.

These facilities have been gazetted and will be operationalised this financial year.

Equipment Sub-county hospital

Hematology analyser Marani, Nyamache, Ogembo, Keumbu, Kenyenya,
Gesusu, Iranda
Standard delivery beds Marani, Nyamache, Keumbu
Baby incubators Marani, Nyamache , Keumbu , Kenyenya, Gesusu,
Iranda, Nduru
Autoclave machines Marani, Nyamache
BTL set Marani
Caesarian sets Marani
Suction machines Ogembo, Nduru
Oxygen cylinders Keumbu, Nduru
Ultrasound machines Nduru
The 250 bed male ward under construction at KTRH. Once complete, it will increase the hospital’s bed
capacity to over 700. Biochemistry analysers Marani, Kenyenya, Gesusu, Iranda

Human resource
In order to boost the morale of health workers, the county has continually improved their terms and condi-
tions of service through timely promotions, re-designation, capacity building, establishment of a conflict
resolution committee, among others. We recently promoted over 1,100 health workers across various
cadres. We also absorbed 30 doctors upon the expiry of their internship period. These doctors have been
posted to sub-county hospitals. Each of these hospitals now has at least three doctors, where previously
there was one or none at all.
The table below highlights the staffing levels before and after devolution.
Now, patients can access theatre services at Gucha, Keumbu, Nyamache and Gesusu sub-
county hospitals. Construction of modern theatres is underway at Nduru, Marani and Ke-
nyenya sub-county hospitals and ultimately, all Level 4 hospitals will have theatre facili-
ties.
At Nyamache Sub-County Hospital, 71 procedures have been done, including 48 caesar-
ean sections and one major surgery; while at Keumbu Sub-County Hospital, 39 surgeries
have been done. Plans are also underway to establish others at Marani and Iyabe sub-
county hospitals.

Cadre Before devolution Currently

Telemedicine
Doctors 79 161
To allow health professionals to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients requiring special-
Nurses 696 900 ised treatment through the Internet, the Kisii County Government is investing in telemedi-
cine facilities in collaboration with John Hopkins University Hospital in USA and Apollo
Clinical Officers 115 235
Group of Hospitals in India to connect KTRH to the sub-county hospitals.
Ambulance paramedics/operators None 28 Moving forward, in order to improve and reduce healthcare costs, we will invest more
Medical laboratory technicians 46 92 on public health and community strategy so that we can be able to prevent the burden
of communicable diseases. This will be achieved by fostering partnership with other sec-
Pharmaceutical technicians 12 36 tors and NGOs.
Medical engineers 6 20
Nutritionists 15 25
Occupational therapists 5 18
Orthopaedic technologists 4 9
Physiotherapists 9 14
Public health officers 30 30
Radiographers 5 10
Social workers 1 13

Preventive and primary Health services

The county is committed to strengthening primary healthcare in order to prevent both communicable and
non-communicable illnesses. Focus is on reducing infant and maternal mortality, combating HIV and Aids,
and easing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
Working with partners, we are upscaling the operationalisation of community units so that we have com-
munity health volunteers in every sub-location. These volunteers will visit households and share informa-
tion on personal hygiene and lifestyle in a bid to prevent communicable and non-communicable illnesses.
We have also strengthened collaborations with specialists from various parts of the world to offer much-
needed services to our people.
(b) Sub-county hospitals
In the sub-counties, Levels II and III hospitals have undergone infrastructural upgrade through renovation
of basic facilities and installation of core medical equipment.
We have identified 31 new facilities that were built through CDF and other agencies in the sub-counties.
Part of the 10 state of the art ambulances acquired by the County for the emergency
ambulatory service. One ambulance is stationed in each of the nine Sub Counties.
Ambulatory services
Prior to the inception of the devolved governance in Kisii County, residents had no am-
bulatory services. As an intervention, the County Government pioneered the establish-
ment of an Emergency Ambulatory Service, complete with trained emergency medical
technicians. Currently, each of the nine sub-county hospitals has one state-of-the-art
ambulance. Since it was launched, a total of 9,484 critical cases, among them expectant
mothers, have been transferred for specialised care.
Residents can access this service using the emergency response telephone number;
0727600010 that is operational 24 hours a day.
12 Kisii County Government

KShs2.1 billion cancer treatment at KNH, while chemotherapy costs between KShs6,000
and KShs600,000 depending on the drugs used. Com-
pared to private facilities like Cancer Care Kenya, it costs

centre in Kisii to benefit millions about KShs50,000 a week for radiotherapy, and between
KShs12,000 and KShs200,000 for treatment, depending on
drugs used. This explains why we need more public institu-
tions to offer this critical service.
Confronted by these facts, and in line with Governor James
Ongwae’s vision to bring health services closer to the resi-
dents of Kisii County, the county prepared a project docu-
ment for setting up a cancer centre in Kisii. Our proposal
caught the eye of the Arab Bank of Economic Development
in Africa (BADEA), who together with the Saudi Fund for
Development (SFD), agreed to co-finance the project to the
tune of US$10 million each (KShs1 billion), while the Gov-
ernment of Kenya will contribute an equivalent of US$ 2.8
million (KShs280 million).
The loan agreement with BADEA has already been signed,
but the SFD loan agreement is still being negotiated. None-
theless, as we await the signing by SFD, the county has
already identified a potential site, and set up a project im-
plementation unit to oversee activities prior to the commis-
sioning of the project that will be handed over to the Kisii
Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH).
The cancer centre will serve an estimated 10 million people
in Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Kericho and
the Transmara region of Narok County.
“This centre will transform healthcare service provision in
Kisii and neighbouring counties. It will bring this critical ser-
Kisii Governor James Ongwae (left) and Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich (centre) receive documents from H.E. Yousif Bin Ibrahim, vice closer to the people and support Kisii University, with
President of the Board of Directors of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and Director General H.E. Abdelaziz Khelef whom we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(right) during the signing of a KShs2.1 billion loan agreement for the establishment of a cancer centre in Kisii. The loan will be repaid in 30 years for the establishment of a medical school at the hospital,”
at an interest rate of one per cent. says Governor Ongwae.
The project is set to commence by April next year and will
As we await the signing by SFD, the county has already identified a take 18 months to complete. It will occupy 5,000 square
metres of land and will be fully equipped with theatres,
potential site, and set up a project implementation unit to oversee four examination rooms, mammograms, an observation
activities prior to the commissioning of the project that will be ward, waiting rooms, lecture rooms, a control room, two
shielded rooms for x-ray, CT Scanner, changing rooms for
handed over to the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital. doctors and staff, an ICU with 12 beds, and patient wards
with 40 beds.
Onchari Kenani
- Onchari Kenani, Project Manager The scope of the project includes detailed design and su-
Project Manager
SOURCE INTERNEWS pervision, training and capacity building for medical staff.

K
isii County is putting up an ultra-mod-
ern cancer treatment centre which
will go along way in offering treat-
ment services closer home.
Cancer is a leading cause of death globally,
and is growing fast in developing countries.
Developing countries now account for over
two-thirds of all cancer deaths.
Globally, cancer kills more people than tu-
berculosis, HIV and Aids and malaria com-
bined.
When doctors from India-based B.L. Ka-
pur Specialty Hospital held a one-day free
cancer screening at the Kisii Teaching and
Referral Hospital (KTRH), over 1,700 people
turned up and overwhelmed the doctors.
Of those who braved the long queues to
see the specialists, only 500 were screened,
leaving many frustrated. The specialists
suspected 20 cases of cancer, while one
was confirmed. These patients will have to
travel to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
or overseas in search of treatment and care
at very high costs.
This is the reality in many parts of Kenya. It
is estimated that there are over 39,000 new
cancer cases in Kenya every year, and the
World Health Organisation (WHO) reports
that 27,000 of cases are from the western
part of Kenya. KNH in Nairobi and the Moi
Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in
Eldoret can handle about 9,000 cases per
annum, leaving the rest to private centres
locally or abroad. Unfortunately, some pa-
tients resign to their ‘fate’ and wait to die.
Accessible and affordable healthcare is a
constitutional right for every Kenyan, yet
cancer treatment is not available to many,
resulting in the 13,720 annual deaths, ac-
cording to the 2014 Economic Survey.
Patients spend between KShs500 and
KShs1,000 per session for radiotherapy
“The establishment of the cancer centre in Kisii County will
boost early detection of the disease and reduce the cost in-
curred by patients who have to travel to Kenyatta National
Hospital and even abroad for the service,” observed said
Henry Rotich the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury
during the signing ceremony.
Kisii University Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Akama, wel-
comed the project, describing it as an innovative and stra-
tegic move by the County Government.
“Kisii University will benefit immensely from this project
because we will use it in conducting various forms of re-
search on causes of the rising incidence of cancer and how
to create awareness on prevention. Through it, we shall at-
tract specialists and funding from international partners,”
said Prof. Akama.
According to WHO, cancer incidences in Kenya have been
rising over the past decade with western Kenya region re-
cording 27,000 cases annually. Of these, 20,000 should
benefit from radiotherapy, but many cannot access it, lead-
ing to deaths.
Common cancers are; cancer of the cervix, cancer of the
breast, cancer of the prostrate, HIV related malignancies,
cancer of the oesophagus among others.

Governor James Ongwae (left) launches distribution of drugs The new prefab headquarters of the department of health The County renovated the kitchen at KTRH to allow for use of
and pharmaceuticals to outlying health facilities. services at KTRH built by the County Government gas instead of firewood used previously.
 Kisii County Government 13

Accessibility enhanced with better roads

In order to boost efficiency in road construction, the county purchased road construction
equipment, including tipper trucks, graders, excavators, drum rollers and wheel loaders. The
equipment is also available for hire to contractors.
John Omwoyo Samuel Ongocho
CEC Roads and Public Works Chief Officer Roads and
Public Works

T
he Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, specifies that the National Government
shall be responsible for construction and maintenance of classified roads, while the counties are
responsible for the construction and maintenance of rural access roads.
The Department of Roads, Public Works and Transport is responsible for the management of engineer-
ing works and services; roads development; maintenance of infrastructure; motor vehicles and heavy
equipment.
Key milestones
Enabling legislation
The department has developed the following legislations to support effective service delivery.
(i) Kisii County Transport Act, 2014 – to streamline the transport system within the county
(ii) Kisii County Mechanical and Transport Fund Bill – to mobilise resources through hire of plant and
machinery

Roads Directorate
As at March 2013, Kisii County had 1,133 kilometres of classified roads and 962 kilometres of rural ac-
cess roads, out of which 123.8 kilometres were tarmacked and 1,009.2 kilometres were rural access
roads. Recognising the importance of a good road network for economic development, the county
embarked on opening, gravelling and grading the new rural access roads to boost access to markets
and ease transport challenges. Part of the road construction equipment acquired by the County to boost efficiency in the
sector. The equipment is available to contractors on hire.
Item Before devolution (kms) Current situation (kms)
Tarmacked roads 123.8 130
Mechanical Engineering Directorate
Gravelled roads 340.2 1,155.2
In order to boost efficiency in road construction, the county purchased road construction equip-
Earth roads 669 1,359 ment, including tipper trucks, graders, excavators, drum rollers and wheel loaders. The equipment
Total 1,133 2,644.2 is available on hire to contractors. The county has also pioneered in the labour-based approach,
where youth are contracted to undertake works using the road construction equipment. This has
The county has constructed 1,505 kilometres of rural access roads, including 815 kilometres of com- allowed for construction of more roads within a short time, thus reducing costs.
pacted gravelled roads and opening of 690 kilometres of new roads in the sub-counties as illustrated Owing to the hilly terrain and heavy rains received in Kisii, the quality of roads deteriorates fast
below: after construction. For this reason, the county has bought the following equipment to support the
activities of the department.
Name (kms) Plant and machinery
Compacted gravelled roads 815
Item Before devolution Current situation (2016)
Opened and graded roads 690
Graders 1 4
Total 1,505
Excavators None 3
(i) County roads constructed Rollers None 3
(ii) Roads rehabilitated
Shovels None 1
Whereas it’s the responsibility of the National Government to develop all classified roads, the county
has rehabilitated sections of critical roads within Kisii Town and its environs. The Gusii Stadium – Itie- Tippers 1 5
rio Primary School Road (6.2 kolometres), a critical bypass that has become dilapidated, is currently Total 3 16
being rehabilitated.

Challenges
• Inadequate road reserves leading to conflicts with land owners
• Topographical problems considering that the county is hilly and rocky, hence consuming a
lot of resources during construction

Way forward
• There is need to continue embracing labour-based approach to ensure job creation for the
county’s residents, especially the youth
• The roads that have been constructed need to be maintained

The Nyamarambe - Coffee Factory road in South Mugirango Sub County.

One of the graders acquired by the County works on a road in Kitutu Chache South Sub County.
Erera-Kenonka road in Kisii Central ward before and after construction by the County Using the equipment, the County is opening more roads in the Sub Counties.
Government. Prices of land in the area have plumetted since the road was opened.
14 Kisii County Government

Availing safe water closer to the people

The County has made efforts to ensure residents have improved sources of water that
include protection of springs, drilling of boreholes and construction of water springs, while
rehabilitating the existing ones.
Dr. Moiro Omari Zablon Ongori
CEC Water Chief Officer Water

T
he Department of Water, Energy, Environ-
ment and Natural Resources derives its
mandate from the Fourth Schedule of the
Kenya Constitution, 2010, which gives County
Governments the constitutional mandate to
deliver water and sanitation services. The de-
partment executes this mandate through the
directorates of Water, Energy and Environment.
Though Energy is not a fully devolved function,
the County Government, in partnership with
the National Government and other stakehold-
ers, has put in place measures to address energy
requirements in the county.
Since the County Government came to power,
it has made efforts to ensure residents have im-
proved sources of water that include protection
of springs, drilling of boreholes and construc- The County launched a spring protection programme to improve the quality of water available to
tion of water springs, while rehabilitating the residents.
existing ones. Spring protection
These efforts have seen the protection of 540 To improve the quality and quantity of water available to residents, secure water sources for future
water springs across the 45 wards; drilling of 25 expansion and reticulation, the county launched a spring protection programme targeting 675
boreholes; distribution of 45 water tanks to pri- water springs in all 45 wards. So far, 540 springs have been protected, benefitting an estimated
mary schools across the county to help in har- 24,300 households in the county.
vesting rainy water and support pupils access
safe drinking water; rehabilitation of seven wa-
ter schemes; and construction of 18 schemes
which are ongoing, while 31 are to start in the
2016/2017 financial year.

Key achievements
Enabling legislation
The following legislations have been prepared
to support the operations of the Department:
• The Kisii County Public Nuisance Act,
2014
• Kisii County Polythene Bags and Garbage
Control Bill, 2015
Rain water harvesting
Although Kisii County is blessed with abun-
dant rainfall and numerous rivers, residents in
urban and rural areas experience water short-
ages. One of the pledges of the Governor in his
pre-election manifesto was to promote rain-
water harvesting and utilisation as a means of
addressing water shortages. In this regard, the
county distributed water tanks to two public in-
stitutions in each of the 45 wards to encourage
and promote rainwater harvesting.
embarked on rehabilitation and construction
of water schemes.
So far, seven water schemes have been reha-
bilitated (Getenga, Suguta, Amasago, Igoma,
Rioma, Riosiri, Mosora) and construction of 18
new water schemes is underway.
Drilling of boreholes have been drilled (Boochi Tendere, Ibeno, Boo-
chi Borabu, Bogeka, Nyamasibi, Machoge Bassi, Energy
To increase access to safe, clean water to
residents and support agriculture, the county Keumbe, Tabaka, Moticho, Boitenga, Bogetao- To operationalise water reticulation schemes
launched a programme to drill boreholes in rio, Kiamokama, Gesusu, Nyamasibi, Boguserio, and expand electricity connectivity, the coun-
each of the 45 wards. Nyakoe, Kitutu Chache, Nyatieko, Bobasi Cen- ty has partnered with National Government
tral). agencies to provide power supply. The county
The boreholes are located in public institutions
Water schemes constructed and rehabilitated has connected 834 facilities with power in the
and fitted with handpumps.
To increase access to potable water and reduce last three years. Among the facilities connect-
The plan is to develop the boreholes into wa- ed are 505 primary schools, 27 health facilities
ter reticulation schemes to serve residents near the distance covered to access water from
three kilometres to one kilometer, the county and 45 households.
the public institutions. So far, 25 boreholes
Since the County Government came to power, it has made efforts to ensure residents
have improved sources of water that include protection of springs, drilling of boreholes
and construction of water springs, while rehabilitating the existing ones.

A tree seedling nursery operated by a youth group near Storm Hotel in Kisii Central Ward. Governor James Ongwae commissions Mosora Water Project in Bobasi Sub
County. The County is reviving stalled water projects and building new ones.
 Kisii County Government 15

Ensuring prudent financial management

In compliance with the advisories issued by the National Treasury from time to time,
the department has fully implemented the use of Integrated Financial Management
Dr. Kodek Omwancha
Information System (IFMIS) and e-procurement component in its financial management Wilfred Auma
CEC Finance
operations. Chief Officer Finance

The Department of Finance and Economic Planning derives its mandate from the
Constitution of Kenya, 2010, the Public Financial Management Act, 2012 and
County Government Act, 2012.

The department is responsible for monitoring, evaluating and overseeing

the management of public finances; planning of economic affairs and policy
formulation; implementing financial and economic policies; preparing and co-
coordinating the implementation of the annual budget; mobilising resources for
funding the budgetary requirements and managing the County Government’s
public debt; providing technical and operational support for ICT systems and
infrastructure and procurement of goods, works and services for the county.
Key achievements
Enabling legislation and policy documents
The department has developed the following policy documents and legislation
to guide the implementation of its operations:

1. The County Integrated Development Plan, 2013 – 2017

2. The County Emergency Fund Act, 2016
3. The Revenue Administration Act, 2014
4. The County ICT Roadmap 2015-2020
5. Annual development plans
6. County fiscal strategy papers (annually)
7. The annual budget
8. Finance Act (annually)
9. The Debt Management Strategy Paper (annually)

Procurement
Following an advisory from the National Treasury that Access to Government
Governor James Ongwae(right0 and speaker Kerosi Ondieki (left) are shown how the automated revenue collection
Procurement Opportunities (AGPOs) certificates be issued at the county level,
system works. The County has finalized plans to roll out automated revenue collection for all streams.
the department established an AGPO desk in January, 2015 at Huduma Centre.
To date, over 200 certificates have been issued to disadvantaged groups in the
categories of general supplies, provision of works and services, health services
Name of Project Objective
and consultancy services.
Installation of structured Local Area Network and Wi-Fi infrastruc- To improve connectivity, access to information and
e– Government ture services offered over computer networks
The department, in compliance with the various advisories issued by the Na- Equipping county offices with end-user ICT equipment and devices To capacitate staff with necessary equipment and
tional Treasury issued from time to time, has fully implemented the use of In- materials required to perform their functions
tegrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and e-procurement
component in its financial management operations. This has led to an improve- Establishment of county data centre and network operation center To provide infrastructure for hosting all county ICT
ment in financial decision-making and efficient and effective delivery of finan-
cial services.
(NOC) systems
Revenue automation Establishment of modern computer training/information centre To improve digital literacy among staff and county
In a bid to bolster revenue mobilisation and management, as well as widen the residents
revenue base, the Directorate of Revenue has identified more revenue streams
Installation of county IP-based telephony system complete with E1 To provide cost effective reliable communication
and is in the process of automating revenue collection. The procurement process
for automation of revenue collection is on and the system will be introduced by integration platform for both internal and external clients
September 2016. Deployment of County Active Directory and Unified Threat Manage- To provide secure access and management of all
ment Solution ICT resources and services; and ensure security of
ICT services data.
As part of setting up the governance structures for the County Government,
Installation of IP-based surveillance/CCTV system To provide real-time security monitoring within
there was need to set up an ICT directorate to provide the county departments
with the necessary information technology infrastructure and services in the and around County Government offices
discharge of their mandates. In view of this, the department has implemented Development and implementation of county Access to Government To manage online registration of youth, women
the following projects that have enhanced communication and sharing of infor-
mation among the county departments and the external clients.
Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) system and persons with disability in implementing the 30
per cent procurement rule
ICT completed projects
Going forward, the County Treasury will continue to put in place appropriate
measures to improve service delivery. These measures include continuous train-
ing and capacity building of staff to enhance their reporting capability, develop-
ing and enforcing cost benchmarks for the procurement of goods and services,
monitoring of budget implementation, carrying out regular value-for-money au-
dits and allocation of scarce resources to the county’s strategic priorities.
The department will also continue investing in information technology in a bid
to improve access to information and timely decision-making.

The modern ICT laboratory installed by the County at the Kisii The County Government has set up a one stop shop desk at Huduma Centre to boost e-government service delivery to the
Agricultural Training Centre. people. On the right is the modern server room.
16 Kisii County Government
Making devolution deliver for Kisii residents
The county government is cognisant of the fact that unless we invest in the potential of the
youth and women, we will not achieve real development that benefits everybody in
future - Governor Ongwae
Q. You were elected four years ago on a plat-
form of making devolution a reality. Do you
think devolution is working for the people of
Kisii and Kenyans in general?
A. Yes. Devolution is working. Devolution is a
reality and it is here to stay. Devolution has re-
ally been beneficial to the people of Kisii. There
has been a marked improvement in the de-
volved functions such as water, health services
and roads. Examples of development in these
areas abound and people can see for them-
selves. I can categorically state that devolution
has succeeded and will succeed even more in
the years to come.
Q. During your campaigns, you unveiled
your manifesto on how you would serve the
people of Kisii County if elected. Have you
translated your manifesto into reality?
I can say with certainty that tremendous prog-
ress has been made in actualizing my campaign
manifesto. Education has improved greatly in
Kisii. We were the first county to hold an edu-
cation stakeholders’ conference that brought
together renowned scholars, both local and
international, to Kisii to deliberate on issues
that affect the sector. I formed a taskforce com-
prised of all stakeholders to implement the rec-
ommendations from this conference. Over the
last three years, we have disbursed KShs430
million in bursaries to needy students. This year,
our bursary allocation is KShs240 million.
We have also recruited Early Childhood Devel-
opment (ECD) teachers, built ECD classrooms,
and absorbed youth polytechnic tutors who
were not being paid by the national govern-
ment to improve the area of education within
the context of my mandate. In the area of staff-
ing in the health sector, I have recruited more
medical staff, while hospitals that had one doc-
tor or none at all, now have between two and
three doctors. When we came in, a number of
hospitals didnít have theatres. We have resusci-
tated theatres at Nyamache, Keumbu, Gesusu
and Gucha hospitals.
In my manifesto, I pledged to initiate strate-
gies to create employment for our people. The
county however cannot just be driven by cre-
ation of employment, but rather by offering an
enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Kisii Town is now a 24-hour economy with
thriving enterprises.
Q. You have been praised for turning around
the former Kisii Level 5 Hospital to a teach-
ing and referral hospital. What kind of face-
lift has your government given to the hos-
pital?
When the Kisii County Government came into
power in 2013, the hospital was in a dilapidated
state with poor infrastructure, patient conges-
tion and lack of proper working equipment and
general staff apathy.
We immediately embarked on addressing these
challenges for better service delivery. Firstly,
we collaborated with Kisii University to elevate
the hospital to a teaching and referral facility.
We embarked on a major facelift, including
renovation of the kitchen to use gas instead of
firewood, establishment of a 10-bed renal unit
to offer dialysis services, installation of state-
of-the-art diagnostic equipment like a 16 slice
CT Scan, digital x-rays and MRI, increasing bed
capacity from 450 to 700, and construction of
a hostel block. We are putting up a new 100-
body capacity mortuary to replace the current
20-body capacity morgue. Further, we have put
up an administration unit to house staff and this
has freed space to accommodate the High De-
pendency and ICU units.
Establishing a medical school will bring special-
ist services close to the people and allow for
research. We also developed a concept paper
which has enabled us get funding from the
Saudi government and the Arab Bank for Inter-
national Development to put up a KShs2 billion
cancer centre in Kisii. There is going to be con-
tinued major improvements in health services.
We didn’t have specialists before, but now we
have seven specialists in all medical practices.
Q. How about infrastructure? What are some
of the key successes in this area?
A. I had indicated that I would improve the
road network in Kisii. As we all know, there
has been a disagreement over the roads to be
handled by county governments and those un-
der the national government. It has taken us a
long time to know which roads belong to us. It
is only. Recently that the the National Govern-
ment released county roads to us, but this was
not accompanied by the release funds for these
roads. The National Government still retains
funds for the roads that they have released to
us This notwithstanding, we have been able to
open up the road network within the County. In
the first year, we did over 500km of road and
we continue to open up more roads and ensure
they are usable even during the rains. Our first
intervention was to purchase road construction
equipment. We have also put up our own office
structures at the headquarters and at the Sub
Counties.
Q. The Kisii Entrepreneurship Summit (KES
2016) was hailed as a huge success. What
exactly did you achieve at the KES 2016?
How many trade deals did you sign during
the summit and what is the status of these
agreements?
The Kisii Entrepreneurship Summit was a huge
success and one of its kind in the region. The
summit accorded us an opportunity to show-
case trade and investment opportunities in Ki-
sii County to local, regional and international
investors who were in attendance. It also pro-
vided a mentorship opportunity for our budding
entrepreneurs through interaction with estab-
lished entrepreneurs.
In the aftermath of the summit, we have been
able to sign three agreements totalling KShs21
billion. We have signed an agreement with an
Indian investor for the establishment of a sugar
complex in South Mugirango Sub-County. The
Sugar mill will have a capacity to crush 5,000
tonnes of cane per day and produce 172,500
metric tonnes of sugar. Additionally, the sugar
complex will produce 15 million litres of etha-
nol and 10 megawatts of power.
We also signed an agreement with a Chinese
investor for the establishment of a new city
in Kisii. The firm will offer low-cost housing
solutions to the South Nyanza region and cre-
ate 10,000 new jobs in the area. In ICT, leading
voice, data and IP provider, Liquid Telecom, will
invest KShs6 billion in connectivity projects.
This includes connecting the county govern-
ment with its devolved units, metro Wi-Fi in
Kisii Town and interconnectivity with Isebania
along the Kenya-Tanzania border.

Q. What are your priority projects this finan-
cial year?
A. The priorities for this financial year are:
Infrastructural development: Adequate allo-
cation of resources in roads, transport, public
works, energy, sewerage system, market devel-
opment and information and communication
technology (ICT) programmes. This will reduce
the cost of transport, promote competitiveness,
open up business opportunities for our people,
and facilitate faster and more inclusive county
development. The projects will also help in em-
ployment creation and poverty reduction.
Water reticulation: Provision of equitable ac-
cess to safe and affordable drinking water for
county residents through construction of water
schemes, drilling of boreholes and spring pro-
tection.
Healthcare: Equipping Kisii Teaching and Re-
ferral Hospital, while expanding and stabilising
existing sub-county health facilities to facilitate
accessibility of health services to our people.
We will also purchase enough drugs and recruit
enough health personnel in our healthcare sys-
tems, with a view to building a healthy and pro-
ductive human resource base that we need for
driving our county development agenda. We
will also ensure adequate social safety net for
our vulnerable groups.
Social protection: This is intended to open up
opportunities to tap the latent talents and en-
trepreneurial capabilities of our youth, women
and persons with disability by encouraging
them to form groups and be assisted to start
income-generating activities.
Further, Kisii County has pioneered in starting
a National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) sub-
scription for the poor and marginalized across
the county. Through the Kisii County NHIF Sup-
port Act, 2015, we have set aside KShs.40 mil-
lion to pay the NHIF subscriptions for those un-
able to access medical care within the County.
Now the poor and elderly will be supported
through NHIF subscription (social protection) to
enable them actively participate in our county’s
development agenda. Identification of benefi-
ciaries is ongoing as stipulated in the Act.
Economic development: We will work on de-
veloping markets to enhance revenue collec-
tion, besides providing security for traders and
their properties. We will also promote food se-
curity and generation of farm income through
intensified information management for the ag-
ricultural sector and enhancement of extension
services through integrated efforts towards im-
provement of both crop and animal husbandry.
Q. Many counties inherited administrations
with bloated staff from the defunct local
authorities. This excessive work force has
negatively impacted on county expenditure
because of the huge wage bill. Are you fac-
ing the same problem in Kisii and how have
you handled it?
A. When we took over, we had three cadres of
staff - those from the National Government,
those from the defunct local authorities, and
the officers that we employed. The bulk of the
staff were from the local authorities. Accord-
ing to the Employment Act, you cannot remove
any worker from employment. However, some
of them require retraining because some of the
services they were offering - like in revenue –
were manual and we have since gone digital.
We partnered with the National Government
to come up with the Capacity Assessment and
Rationalisation Programme, in which I happen
to be the co-chair at the Council of Governors
level.
This programme is meant to ensure staff ratio-
nalisation in national and county Governments.
We now have resources in the budget for the
rationalisation programme and hope that coun-
ties will be able to do this.
Q. What is your working relationship with
your fellow governors, especially those from
Western Kenya? Do you have a forum where
you discuss issues affecting the region?
A: My working relationship with fellow gover-
nors is excellent. At the Council of Governors
level, I have been appointed as the chair of the
Human Resources, Labour and Social Welfare
Committee. This is a very important commit-
tee charged with what is considered the most
important factor of production, which is hu-
man capital. I am humbled by the confidence
bestowed upon me by my fellow governors,
which testifies to my good working relationship
with them. At the regional level, our cordial
working relationship has also seen us form the
Lake Basin Region Economic Bloc to spur eco-
nomic development of our respective counties.
Initially, the bloc consisted of the 10 counties
of the former Nyanza and Western provinces;
(Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii,
Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya and Vihiga).
Three other counties (Bomet, Kericho and
Trans-Nzoia) later joined the bloc, which now
has a membership of 13 counties. These coun-
ties share not only vastly similar ecological
zones and natural resources, but have similar
cultural histories that date back to pre-colonial
times.
In the wake of devolution, the governors of the
13 counties took a bold step to come together
to harness the abundant natural resources of
the region and benefit from economies of scale.
We have identified the main economic pillars
for spurring economic growth and allocated
these to various counties based on their com-
parative advantage. Kisii County, for example,
is in charge of the Health pillar. When as a bloc
we negotiate for sectoral funding, we will allow
more resources to go to the county in charge of
a particular pillar.
We have also sought partnerships with various
local and international agencies to support our
development agenda and have received en-
couraging responses, which we will soon un-
veil.
We are grateful for the support we have re-
ceived from Deloitte East Africa, who partnered
with us in preparing the economic blueprint
which was launched by H.E. the President dur-
ing the Second Devolution Conference in Kisu-
mu in 2015.
Q. How about your relationship with Kisii
leaders - the Senator, MPs and MCAs?
A. I would like to indicate that I am friends with
Kisii leaders even though as expected in poli-
tics, sometimes we may not agree on certain
issues. In matters development, the mwananchi
we serve is one.
Q. Do you hold any position at the Council
of Governors? How have you used this posi-
tion to improve devolution?
A. As the chairman of the Human Resources
and Social Welfare Committee of the Council of
Governors, I was instrumental in ensuring the
setting up of a proper institutional framework
The Kisii Entrepreneurship Summit was a huge success
and one of its kind in the region. The summit accorded
us an opportunity to showcase trade and investment
opportunities in Kisii County to local, regional and
international investors who were in attendance. It also
provided a mentorship opportunity for our budding
entrepreneurs through interaction with established
entrepreneurs.
in the counties.
I was also involved in advising all counties on
staffing modalities. I was the one who recom-
mended the staffing and the type of cadres that
governors needed to recruit. Working closely
with the Salaries and Remuneration Commis-
sion (SRC), I was involved in setting up the sal-
ary structure for the new cadres of staff who
came in after devolution. At the moment, I am
closely involved in ensuring counties have a
superannuation scheme and other human re-
source benefits.
Q. What are your plans for the youth, wom-
en and people with disabilities in Kisii?
The county government is cognisant of the
fact that unless we invest in the potential of
the youth and women, we will not achieve real
development that benefits everybody in fu-
ture. We are committed to the empowerment
and improvement of the lives of our youth and
women. We are opening up opportunities to
tap the latent talents and entrepreneurial capa-
bilities of our youth, women and persons with
disability, by encouraging them to form groups
and be assisted to start income-generating ac-
tivities.
We are also directing resources towards the
promotion of sporting activities and expan-
sion of youth polytechnics in order to ensure
sustainable youth empowerment. We are also
constructing workshops in our sub-counties to
enhance training on artisan skills, crafts and
technical training, which will equip our youth
with skills that will enable them contribute to
economic development by making them self
reliant. Bursaries are also being given to needy
students in all the wards.
In order to empower the most vulnerable mem-
bers of society, we have set aside resources for
affirmative action interventions to help people
with disability and youth development to en-
able them actively participate in our economic
transformation agenda. We are the only county
that has acquired a card printer to be used in
the identification and registration of persons
with disability, which is a milestone as counties
in the Western region can access this facility in
Kisii.
Q. Kisii County is home to massive deposits
of raw materials for the soapstone industry.
How has this industry impacted on the econ-
omy of Kisii and what big plans do you have
for the industry?
A. Kisii County is the only county with this rare
rock. Soapstone renders itself for manipula-
tion to make figurines. It can also be used to
make ceramics, talc powder, paint and other
products. We have written to the Ministry of
Industry to help us get an investor to ensure we
engage in value addition. We look forward to a
day when we won’t have to export soapstone
as a raw product or as figurines. Currently, we
have allowed investors who are doing minor
value addition like the manufacture of kaolin
powder.
Q. Industrialisation is key to achieving Ke-
nya vision 2030. How fast is Kisii being in-
dustrialised?
A. The existing industries in the county comprise
Kisii County Government 17
manufacturing industries, bakeries and jua kali
associations. There is also great potential for in-
dustries like soapstone, chalk making, hospital-
ity, brick making, tea factories, fruit processing,
sugar factories and vegetable processing.
The informal sector in the county provides em-
ployment opportunities for an estimated 60
per cent of the county population, contributing
about 70 per cent of household incomes. The
activities in the sector include, jembe making,
repair and metal fabrication, furniture mak-
ing, dressmaking, hairdressing etc. The sale of
second-hand clothes has spread throughout the
county and is employing a substantial number
of residents. This sector has high potential for
development and a big and ready market.
We have recognised the critical role that can
be played by the private sector and develop-
ment partners in the mobilisation of resources
towards industrial development and therefore,
we are using the public private partnership
model to accelerate development so as to cre-
ate jobs and spur county development. We are
also in touch with development partners for the
same. Recently, we held the entrepreneurship
summit where we showcased our resources
and provided an opportunity to link local re-
gional and international investors.
Q. What are some of the challenges facing
devolution today and how can they tackled?
A. The challenges facing devolution are many
and varied. The biggest challenge is that gov-
ernors had to fight to ensure that devolution
is accepted. There were political challenges as
well that unfortunately were advanced to some
extent by the media. For instance, about four
months into devolution, we were already deal-
ing with complaints that there was nothing tan-
gible to show for devolution! It is only now that
people are seeing the fruits of this new system
of governance. Resources that are allocated to
the counties are not enough in relation to the
functions we have been given. This financial
year, no county got its 12th month remittance
of resources. In Kisii for instance, the National
Treasury remained with over KShs700 million
that is due to the county government. This es-
sentially means that counties end up with debts
they cannot pay.
The other issue is on staffing. We are in di-
lemma about what to do with the excess staff
whom we cannot declare redundant. Another
challenge is the classification of roads. Devolu-
tion, as per Schedule 4 of the 2010 Constitu-
tion, envisioned clear transfer and classifica-
tion of roads. Three years down the road, the
National Government is yet to decentralise this
function.
Another challenge is on devolution of the
health function. Increased responsibility due
to devolution typically lies with counties, and
the Ministry of Health should therefore have
minimal responsibility in the sector. This has not
been fully adhered to by the National Govern-
ment. Funding of the health docket at the na-
tional level is still very high, and this means that
counties have to contend with limited resourc-
es, which have continued hamper services.
Q.Why should the people of Kisii vote you
back to office in 2017?
A. The people of Kisii will vote me back because
first and foremost, I am a serious about what I
am doing. I believe in working for the people of
Kisii County. I have depoliticised the office of
Governor in Kisii County and this is clear in the
development projects I have initiated. Secondly,
the people of Kisii are extremely intelligent and
are able to evaluate good leadership.
18 Kisii County Government
Championing innovative agriculture
The overall objective is to transform the sector from subsistence to a modern, innovative
Vincent Sagwe
and commercially viable industry through value addition, branding and marketing
CEC for Agriculture
A
s outlined in the Fourth Schedule of the
Constitution of Kenya, 2010, the follow-
ing functions and powers are assigned to
counties in the agricultural sector:
• Crop and animal husbandry
• Livestock sale yards
• County abattoirs
• Plant and disease control
• Fisheries
The overall objective of the department is to
transform the sector from subsistence to a
modern, innovative and commercially viable
industry. The department envisions promoting
food security and self-reliance through sustain-
able agricultural growth for employment and
wealth creation.
Focus is on implementing agro-processing, im-
proving availability of quality agricultural in-
puts like seeds, fertilizer and pesticides through
subsidies; improving agricultural marketing for
produce; improving agricultural extension ser-
vices; and improving governance in the area of
cooperatives.
Key achievements
Enabling legislation
The department has formulated eight pieces of
legislation to support the implementation of its
mandate:
• Kisii County Science and Technology Park
Act, 2014
• Kisii County Animal Disease Control Act,
2013
• Kisii County Plant Health Act, 2013
• Kisii County Abattoirs Act, 2013
• Kisii County Animal Welfare Act, 2013
• Kisii County Livestock Act, 2013
Directorate of Crop Production
Achievements by this directorate include:
(a) Greenhouse demonstration kits
Due to diminishing land sizes, traditional ag-
ricultural practices are no longer tenable. The
county is encouraging the use of greenhouses
and has established a greenhouse demonstra-
tion centre at the Agricultural Training Centre.
A total of 45 greenhouses were distributed, one
for each ward.
(b) Modernised extension by incorporating
e-agriculture
Agricultural extension services are critical in
the sector. However, there are challenges re-
garding staffing and lack of equipment, espe-
cially in the dairy sub-sector. To address this
challenge, the department has adopted Infor-
mation and Communication Technology (ICT)
through e-agriculture.
Technical material has been uploaded to the
county’s website and plans are underway to
launch a bulk SMS platform to enable farm-
ers access extension services on their mobile
phones through a digital farm service. The
county has established a modern ICT laborato-
ry at the Agricultural Training Centre to support
this initiative to enhance sustainable agricul-
Samwel Mogeni
Chief Officer Agriculture
tural development and food security.
(c) Provision of farm inputs
To increase food production and boost the
income of farmers, the county introduced a
subsidised inputs programme through which
10,000 farmers received certified maize seed,
planting and topdressing fertilizer.
(d) Tissue culture banana
To encourage the cultivation of tissue culture
banana that is early-maturing and disease-resis-
tant, the county procured and distributed 5,500
tissue culture suckers to farmers in all 45 wards
to promote food security and income genera-
tion.
Mr. Elijah Moindi inspects his avocado farm at Nyambunwa in Bomachoge Borabu Sub County. The
County distributed free seedlings of the hass variety of avocado that is early maturing and has a
high oil content.
have been losing earnings through middlemen 22 coffee factories that need to be modernised
who export the fruit to countries like South Af- in order to enhance efficiency and effective-
rica. ness. A taskforce set up by the county has fi-
To ensure farmers reap from this produce, the nalised its recommendations in areas of value-
addition and branding, financial management
county licensed an investor to put up an avoca-
do-processing factory in Kisii. The investor es- and controls, governance challenges, manage-
tablished a manufacturing plant and exported ment of assets and liabilities, and production
the first batch of 30,000 metric tonnes of avo- and processing. Most of the recommendations
(e) Soil testing and sampling kits cado oil to Mexico for the cosmetic industry. have been implemented and it’s envisaged that
Due to declining soil fertility that experts at- the gains will be realized soon.
However, due to environmental concerns aris-
tribute to continuous application of fertilizers ing from the factory’s location in the middle of
rich in nitrogen, soil testing is recommended town, production was stopped. The county is
to get the right advice on fertilizer to apply, building a multipurpose, value-addition site at
and the type of crops to cultivate. Previously, the Agricultural Training Centre and construc-
farmers had to take samples to agricultural re- tion work is 70 per cent complete.
search centres and wait for days to get results.
The county has organised farmers into a coop-
The county procured and distributed soil test-
erative and distributed free seedlings of early-
ing and sampling kits in all 45 wards. Farmers
maturing Hass variety of avocado that has high
collect samples and have tests conducted at
oil content.
the ward level. The kits give fast, accurate and
reliable soil fertility status, especially PH levels.
(f) Support for the construction of Sombogo
Tea Factory
The area tea farmers have been experiencing
losses due to distance covered to the nearest
tea processing factories. As an intervention
measure, the county government has allocated
KShs30 million as support to farmers, to allow
for the construction of a tea factory.
(h) Construction of a sugar factory
Following the successful hosting of the Kisii En-
Directorate of Fisheries
trepreneurship Summit (KES 2016), the county
has signed an agreement with an investor for With diminishing land sizes, the county is en-
the construction of a sugar complex in South couraging farmers to diversify their agriculture
Mogirango sub-county. The sugar complex will and adopt fish farming as a means to wealth
crush 5,000 tonnes of cane per day and produce and employment creation and improved nutri-
172,500 metric tonnes of sugar, 10 megawatts tion.
of power, and create more than 10,000 direct To support this venture, the County Govern-
and indirect jobs. Additionally, it will produce ment constructed 131 fish ponds and distrib-
7.5 million litres of ethanol. It will be the sec- uted free fingerlings to farmers in all the 45
ond largest sugar factory in Kenya after Mumias wards.
Sugar Company. Through the directorate, the county has iden-
(g) Construction of an avocado factory
(i) Revival of the coffee sector tified suitable sites and encouraged farmers
Avocado is a nutritious fruit cultivated in nearly
The coffee sector has over the years been to start fish farming. Extension officers are on
every home in Kisii County, with great potential
marred by challenges at the farm level, produc- hand to provide technical advice to farmers.
for income generation. Unfortunately, farmers
tion, processing and marketing. The county has Planned projects by the directorate include:

Governor James Ongwae (second from left) hands over a solar drier to a farmer group. The driers were distributed
to farmer groups in each of the 45 wards to facilitate value addition especially to local vegetables.
Governor James Ongwae hands over fish fingerlings
to a fisheries officer during the launch of a fish pond
at Suneka Primary School.
• Completion of the Fish Multiplication Centre
• Construction of more fish ponds in all the
45 wards
• Equipping of multiplication and demonstra
tion centers at Tendere
• Completion of construction of fish markets
and a cold storage facility at the Kisii market
Some of the rabbits distributed to farmer groups in
empowerment initiatives.
The department envisions
promoting food security and
self-reliance through sustainable
agricultural growth for
employment and wealth creation.
Directorate of Livestock Development
The livestock sub sector employs about 60 per cent of the
agricultural labour force in the county.
It also contributes significantly to the local economy as a
source of food and income. The County launched a dairy
commercialisation programme aimed at increasing earn-
ings from the sub sector. Below are some of the director-
ate’s achievements:
(a) Dairy goats
The county distributed 179 dairy goats to farmer groups
in all the 45 wards. Dairy goats are ideal for farmers with
small land sizes.
(b) Improving extension services
The county procured and distributed 20 motorcycles to
facilitate the mobility of agricultural extension officers at
the grassroots.
(c) Livestock disease control
The county successfully conducted vaccination campaigns
against foot and mouth disease (14,896 animals were vac-
cinated), lumpy skin disease (7,509 cattle were vaccinated)
and rabies (214 dogs vaccinated).
(d) Poultry farming
To promote poultry farming, the county distributed 11,018
local poultry as breeding stock to over 6,000 farmers. To
nurture entrepreneurship skills among school pupils, the
county partnered with Innovation Empowerment Project
to distribute 2,250 hens and cages to school children. A
total of 20,000 doses of poultry vaccine were also issued
to farmers.
(e) Cooperatives development
Before 2013, the cooperatives sector was plagued by gov-
ernance issues and low earnings. Through an aggressive
capacity building programme initiated by the county, the
sector has registered tremendous growth in membership,
share capital and assests, and is on its way to recovery.
(f) Agricultural Training Centre
The Agricultural Training Centre was handed over to the
county government in March 2014 through legal notice
number 33. The county has set aside funds to construct
a retreat centre and additional hostels to facilitate the
training of farmers and staff.
Kisii County Government 19
Our dream is to see our farmers increase
productivity from their livestock and earn
more money. Our dairy farmers face many
challenges including high cost of semen
and exploitation by unscrupulous AI service
providers. We have introduced this service
following a needs assessment and public
participation
- Governor Ongwae
Governor James Ongwae flags
off Artificial Insemination (AI)
technicians during the launch
of the subsidized service. to
improve the dairy herd.
Subsidized Artificial
Insemination (AI) to improve
the dairy herd
T
he County Government unveiled a subsidized artificial insemination (AI)
service to improve dairy breeds for milk production.
Dairy farmers now access the service at a cost of KShs.500 down from
KShs3, 000 charged by private service providers. Farmers access this service
through AI technicians stationed in each of the 45 wards who are available on
call 24 hours a day. The County plans to set up a call centre where farmers will
access extension services.
During the launch, Governor James Ongwae underscored the need for breed
improvement to increase productivity and control animal diseases.
“Our dream is to see our farmers increase productivity from their livestock and
earn more money. Our dairy farmers face many challenges including high cost
of semen and exploitation by unscrupulous AI service providers. We have in-
troduced this service following a needs assessment and public participation,”
noted Ongwae.
He noted that his government is committed to improving dairy breeds noting
that the County’s milk production was low.
The Governor called on farmers to shun the culture of using bulls for breeding
saying this contributed to the spread of diseases.
“We are committed to improving livestock production and veterinary services
in the County. I call on farmers to monitor the programme to ensure it meets
the intended objectives. All a farmer needs to do is to monitor their animals
and contact the ward AI service provider who will be available on call 24 hours
a day for consultation and service,” said Governor Ongwae.
He said all served animals will be tagged at a subsidized cost of KShs.100 per
head followed by registration of their progeny in the Kenya Stud Book.
In the same vein, the National Government through the Deputy President Wil-
liam Ruto, has committed support this programme by establishing a liquid ni-
trogen plant in Kisii.
“I commend Kisii County for its efforts in lowering the cost of AI services.
Use of high quality seed is the only way we can improve the production of
meat and milk in the country. I know the hydrogen used to preserve semen is
sourced from Nairobi. I direct the ministry of agriculture to set up the nitrogen
plant in Kisii,” the DP announced during this year’s Kisii ASK Show.
This will help lower the cost of the service by 50 per cent by reducing the dis-
tance covered to access semen at Sotik.
20 Kisii County Government

Bringing service delivery closer to Kisii people

The county established a 24/7 telephone number for receiving emergency calls from
emergency and disaster incident scenes.

Peris Onsarigo Patrick Lumumba

CEC Administration Chief Officer
Administration

T
he department draws its mandate from the
County Government Act, 2012. Its primary
mandate is to:
• Institutionalise governance structure
• Public service management, facilitate • and
coordinate citizen participation and involvement
• Coordinate County Government functions at
the devolved units Enforcement of county laws,
disaster management and emergency response
coordination
The department has facilitated the institution-
alisation of governance structure in the county,
whose focus is on devolved units with nine the
sub-counties and 45 electoral wards.
To strengthen the decentralised units, the county
recruited and deployed sub-county and ward
administrators who are responsible for coordina-
tion, management and supervision of the general
administrative functions in the devolved units, as
well as facilitating citizen participation in gover-
nance.
Key milestones
Enabling legislation
To provide an efficient and effective delivery of
services, the department has developed the fol-
lowing legislations/policies, thereby granting the
department legitimate power to carry out certain
actions:
• Kisii County HIV and Aids Workplace Policy
• Kisii County Transport and Fleet Management
Policy
• Kisii County Disaster Management Act, 2015
• Kisii County Public Participation Act, 2016
• Kisii County Flag, Emblems and Names
Act, 2014
• Ethics and Integrity Policy
• Code of Conduct and Ethics for the County
Public Service
The Kisii County Flag, Emblems and Names Act,
2014
The symbols were designed and developed
through a consultative process before approval
by the County Assembly.
The county flag, coat of arms, logo and seal are
instruments that signify identity and the exercise
of authority. The colours used are symbolic as il-
lustrated below:
• Blue signifies that the sky is the limit for the
county
• White represents peace and unity
• Green denotes the rich agricultural potential
of the county
• The yellow rope represents unity and strength
• The seven stars exemplify the six clans in the
county and other communities resident in
our county
• The hills symbolise our green highlands
• The round ring (egetinge) stands for
Omogusii unity
• Kisii soapstone embodies the creative art
of the Kisii people
County Enforcement Officers undergo training. The enforcement unit supports revenue collection
in the markets and compliance to set regulations.
Complete Ward Offices
• Masige West Ward headquarters office
• Bassi Boitangare Ward headquarters office
• Bassi Chache Ward headquarters office
• Bassi Bogetaorio Ward headquarters office
• Sameta Mokwerero Ward headquarters office
• Moticho Ward headquarters office
• Getenga Ward headquarters office
• Bogetenga Ward headquarters office
• Birongo Ward office
• Bobaracho Ward headquarters office
• Kisii Central Ward headquarters office
• Kiogoro Ward headquarters office
On-going Projects
• Bassi Central Ward office
• Tabaka Ward headquarters office
• Ibeno Ward headquarters office
• Bogusero Ward office
Marshals have trained the unit on firefighting, di-
saster handling, prevention and response coordina-
tion.
In addition, the county also acquired an additional
5000-litre fire engine, firefighting gear, and reno-
vated six water hydrant points located at the Kisii
Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH), Ram Hospi-
tal, Nyanchwa, Getembe, Daraja Mbili and the Kisii
Central Police Criminal Investigation Department
(CID).
Further, the county established a 24/7 telephone
number for receiving emergency calls from emer-
gency and disaster incident scenes. The emergency
number is 0727 600 010.
The modern fire engine acquired by the County
to support emergency response.
Chairman Public Service Board Hon. David Kombo
• Boochi Tendere Ward headquarters office speaking during the Performance Contracting
• Nyakoe Ward headquarters ceremony
• Kitutu Central Ward headquarters
• Bogusero Ward office
the performance of senior officers against the
• Monyerero Ward headquarters office
resources that have been allocated to them,
• Sensi Ward headquarters office and an objective means of rewarding and tak-
• Gesusu Ward headquarters office
ing appropriate sanctions as per the terms of
• Kiamokama Ward headquarters office the contracts.
• Nyamasibi Ward headquarters office
• Bombaba Ward headquarters office
County Public Service Board (CPSB)
• Magenche Ward headquarters office
• Bokimonge Ward headquarters office The County Public Service Board is anchored in
• Bomariba Ward office the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Article 235(1)
and Section 57 of the County Government Act,
2012 with the primary responsibility of building
• Kegogi Ward headquarters office
a strong County Public Service by attracting, re-
• Ichuni Ward headquarters office taining and developing human resource capac-
• Boochi Borabu Ward headquarters office ity and institutional capability for effective and
• Bogiakumu Ward headquarters office efficient social economic transformation at the
grassroots.
construction are as indicated below
Enforcement and compliance
The county has established an enforcement
unit, which is responsible for compliance
with county laws and supporting revenue
collection.
Performance management
Section 47 of the County Governments Act,
2012 provides that each County Executive
Committee shall design a performance man-
agement plan to evaluate the performance of
the County Public Service. The county has in-
troduced performance management and, as
a strategy to entrench delivery of quality and
timely services to residents, all CECs, Chief
Officers and staff have been put on perfor-
mance contracts. Through this system, mem-
bers of the public have a means of assessing

• The shield is a symbol of prosperity,

opportunities, justice, courage and abundance
Emergency and disaster management
To ensure preparedness to respond to emergen-
cies, the county established an Emergency and
Disaster Management Unit.
The National Police Service’s National Disaster
Management Unit (NDMU) has trained officers in
the unit, while the US State of Minnesota’s Fire
Office space
When the County Government came to office, there
was insufficient office space for staff. The county
therefore embarked on construction and renova-
tion of offices at the headquarters, sub-county and
ward levels.
The additional and refurbished space has now pro-
vided officers with conducive working environment
and brought services closer to the people. The County built prefab offices to house its staff at the headquarters. The County has also
built ward offices similar to the Bomariba ward office (above).
The lists of completed offices and those still under
 Kisii County Government 21

Bodaboda initiative
empowers the youth
By Kenan Miruka of operators on safe riding and traf-
fic regulations, as well as formation

T
he sight of motorcycles is a
common feature in Kisii Town.
Loved and loathed in equal
measure, the speedy motorcycles,
popularly known as boda boda, have
transformed the Kisii County econo-
my, particularly the transport sector.
From the county’s capital, Kisii, to the
smallest hamlets in the sub-counties,
boda bodas are now the preferred
modes of transport.
Kisii Boda Boda Association chair-
man, Mike Mose, reveals that there
are an estimated 56,000 motorcycles
in the county, with 12,500 operating
in Kisii Town alone, the highest in the
country. The business potential is im-
mense, with the day population for
Kisii Town rising to 400,000 on mar-
ket days – as per estimates.
Boda bodas are a source of livelihood
for thousands of residents, especial-
ly the youth who would otherwise
be without income. The sector was
however characterised by chaos and
failure to adhere to traffic regula-
tions, among other challenges.
“The bulk of the Kisii County popu-
lation is the youth who comprise 61
per cent of the unemployed popula-
tion. The county government cannot
offer enough job opportunities for
the youth, but the private sector can,
if well supported. This is why we set
out to support the boda boda trade,”
says Governor James Ongwae.
In order to reorganise the sector into
a safe, profitable and sustainable
source of livelihood for the youth, the
governor formed a taskforce to iden-
tify challenges in the sector and pro-
pose a way forward. The taskforce
recommended re-routing of boda
boda transport in Kisii Town, training
of a cooperative. The taskforce also
identified and designated pick-up and
drop-off points.
“Our first intervention was to devel-
op a curriculum for training of boda
boda operators in conjunction with
the Kenya Institute of Highways and
Building Technology (KIHBT) Kisii Cen-
tre. The first batch of 200 operators
were trained and issued with driving
licences,” says Patrick Lumumba, the
Chief Officer for Administration.
Working with leaders in the boda
boda sector, the county administra-
tion has organised the operators into
an organisation dubbed the Kisii Town
Motorcycle (Boda Boda) Savings and
Credit Cooperative Organisation
(Sacco). With technical support from
the county, the operators registered
the Sacco and operate from an office
donated by the county government.
Operators deposit savings in the
Sacco and access credit at an interest
rate of two per cent, with the mini-
mum amount one can borrow being
KShs.20,000. The Sacco has over
3,000 registered members drawn
from 27 stages within Kisii Town.
Members register with KShs.100
and purchase a share at KShs.1,000.
They then contribute a minimum of
KShs.100 monthly.
John Mogambi, 36, is a member of the
Sacco, and has been in business for
the past nine years. Using proceeds
from his boda boda business, he has
managed to put up a corrugated iron-
roofed house in his rural home and
send his two children to school.
He owns five bikes, which generate a
minimum of KShs. 400 each per day.
He rides one but has employed four
other riders. “The least I can expect
Part of the 200 motorbikes acquired by the Kisii
bodaboda Sacco with support from the County.
Governor Ongwae (below) greets players during a past
soccer tournament.
on a normal business day is KShs. 3,000. Without this
business, I do not know how I would have fed my family
and educated my children,” he says.
Boda Boda Association Secretary, Bernard Mokua, says
that Kisii Town has a total of 32 designated passenger
stages.
“We have linked the Sacco with Post Bank and Coopera-
tive Bank. Members pay monthly contributions directly
to the bank through mobile money transfer (M-Pesa) that
is convenient. Members can access loans of up to three
times their savings from the Sacco to buy motorcycles, entrepreneurship skills to address unemployment among
acquire property, pay school fees and cater for emergen- the youth,” says Governor Ongwae.
cies,” explains Mokua.
Only 10 per cent of the youth own motorbikes – a major-
KCB Foundation trains 100 Kisii youth on
ity are employed as riders. This is why the county govern-
entrepreneurship
ment came up with a strategy to enable youth acquire
their own motorbikes.
To further promote youth empowerment, the county
The county has developed and enacted the Kisii Trade identified 100 youth drawn from all the 45 wards to join
Credit Scheme Act, 2015, which provides a legal frame- the KCB Foundation’s Youth Empowerment Programme,
work for the county to provide credit for entrepreneurs dubbed 2Jiajiri.
at low interest rates. The county linked the Sacco with
The pilot programme seeks to empower budding entre-
moneylender Platinum Credit and Honda East Africa, en-
preneurs to scale and upscale their business ventures. The
abling 200 youth to acquire motorcycles in the first phase
youth were trained on entrepreneurship.
of the project using KShs. 2million seed money provided
by the county. Through this, many of the youth who were The programme includes a 12-month incubation period
employed as riders have now become owners, with some during which entrepreneurs will have access to mentor-
already diversifying into taxi business from their increased ship resources.
earnings. The programme has been so successful that the
county is rolling it out to other urban centres within the Participating youth will enjoy discounted financing to
county. support business start-ups and growth. They will also get
connected to mentors, financial advisers and investors on
“To improve working conditions of boda boda operators, project ideas developed.
we built 200 sheds, a minimum of five in each of the 45
wards. Our focus now is to enhance capacity building on

Private investor wins big with KShs200m eye hospital

nowned, not just in Africa, but all obver the
world. We aim at improving community live-
lihoods by providing affordable quality eye
care through innovative and patient-cen-
tered approaches,” says Dr. Kiage.
“I am working towards partnering with the
county government through Public Private
Partnerships to help our people access this
rare service. This centre is the only privately-
owned centre in the county,” says Dr. Kiage.

The centre is dedicated to improving the lives of

people with blindness and visual impairment. The
centre is led by Dr. Kiage, a consultant ophthalmologist
and glaucoma specialist, in collaboration with other
national and international eye care providers.

K
isii County prides itself as home to an inno-
vative eye centre. Founded in 2013, Kisii Eye
Centre uses a social entrepreneurial business
model approach to address the challenging prob-
lem of blindness and visual impairment in Kenya.
In Kisii County, 25 per cent of the population is
affected by visual impairment and blindness. The
leading causes of blindness and vision impairment
in the county include; eye defects that require
glasses, cataract, diabetes, allergies and glaucoma.
The centre is dedicated to improving the lives of
people with blindness and visual impairment. The
centre is led by Dr. Daniel Kiage, a consultant oph-
thalmologist and glaucoma specialist, in collabora-
tion with other national and international eye care
providers.
The centre provides high quality comprehensive
eye care services, and is equipped with state-of-
the-art equipment for the diagnosis and treatment
of eye diseases. It offers world-class eye care ser-
vices.
“Our medical experts are highly qualified and re-
22 Kisii County Government

Nurturing culture, sports and youth talent

To provide recreational facilities and nurture sporting talent as well as preserving
culture with emphasis on the youth.
Marcella Otuke Beatrice Nyariki
CEC Culture, Sports, Youth Chief Officer Culture,
and Social Services Sports, Youth and Social
Services

T
he functions related to Culture, Youth, Sports and Social
Services are not fully devolved. They are under the national
government, including the budgetary allocations for such
functions.
The department is mandated to manage functions outlined
in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010,
which include betting control; liquor licensing; libraries and
museums; sports facilities; and cultural activities and facilities.
However, in the spirit of cooperation, the county government is
supplementing the national government activities by allocating
resources to support programmes that target children, women, Ebitinge (anklets) - wedding bands
persons with disability, sports and affirmative action. worn on the ankles
Key Achievements
• Enabling legislation
• Kisii County NHIF Support Act, 2015
• Youth and Women Empowerment Fund
• Persons with Disability Fund

Persons with disability

We have mainstreamed the rights of Persons with Disability
(PWDs) in the county’s development agenda. The PWDs have an
umbrella organisation, the Kisii County Persons with Disability
Welfare Association, which is headed by a president.
The department has also acquired a card printer, the only one
in the Western Kenya region, to facilitate registration and iden-
tification of Persons with Disability. Previously, PWDs used to
travel to Nairobi to access this service. These cards will enable The Kisii Culture Centre. It has facilities for meetings and recreation.
businesspersons with disability to be exempted from taxes to
empower them economically.
Inter-Counties Sports and Culture Association (KICOSCA) games
Further, the cards will help Persons with Disability to conduct held in Nakuru, where all the counties participated. Kisii County
their businesses in a reserved manner and be recognised and won two gold medals in the competitions. The county also
identified in organisations where they apply for job opportu- participated in East Africa Local Authority Sports and Culture As-
nities. On the other hand, the county sponsored members of sociation games held in Kampala and won one bronze medal.
PWDs including their president for training in Mombasa to en-
hance their skills.
Community libraries
To boost literacy and promote a reading culture, the department
is constructing community libraries in each of the nine sub-coun-
ties. So far, community libraries have been built in Kenyenya and
Ogembo towns. Funds have been set aside to equip and opera-
tionalise these libraries.

Kenyenya Commuty Library built by the County Government

building of washrooms, pavilions and an inner perimeter fence.

In the sub-counties, the department is improving community
playgrounds in each of the 45 wards. Works include levelling of
grounds, fencing and erecting of goalposts. The playing grounds
are currently being improved.
The County has bought a card printer to assist in profiling and
identification of Persons with Disability.
Governor’s Cup
National Hospital Insurance Fund To enhance and promote sports culture, the Governor, through
In order to ensure the needy have access to quality healthcare, the department, rolled out the Governor’s Cup programme in
Kisii County, through this department, has pioneered in this pro- all the nine sub-counties, starting from the ward level. The main Ogembo community library built by the County Government
gramme by setting aside KShs45million to pay National Hospi- agenda was to identify young talented youths in the county, sup-
tal Insurance Fund (NHIF) subscription for selected beneficiaries port and nurture them by equipping them with training skills in
across the county. The NHIF policy is now in place and identifica- sports.
Alternative medicine
tion of beneficiaries is ongoing.
To promote and enhance alternative medicine, the department
Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association has recognised the establishment of Kenya Herbalists Association,
Support for elders’ council and women To promote national cohesion and nurture local talent, the Kisii Branch, headed by a chairman.
Elders play an integral role in promoting cohesion, culture and county, through this department, participated in the Kenya Additionally, the department is building cultural centres in Ta-
peace building in the community. To support their activities, baka and Suneka towns, where construction works are nearly
the department constructed and equipped an office block for complete. Construction of town halls in Mosocho, Kenyenya and
the Abagusii Culture and Development Council. Through the In order to ensure the needy have Tabaka towns are also complete. These cultural centres will host
Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO), the depart-
ment sponsored women leaders from each of the nine sub-coun-
access to quality healthcare, Kisii official and public meetings.

ties to undergo training on entrepreneurship at the Cooperative County, through this department, Rehabilitation of street children
University. The department has also set aside funds to construct
an office for the women organization. has pioneered in this programme by To control and rehabilitate street children, reduce alcoholism
setting aside KShs45million to pay and child prostitution, the department has set aside funds for the
construction of Kiamwasi Rehabilitation Centre. The procure-
Improvement of sports facilities National Hospital Insurance Fund ment process for the project is complete and the tender has been
To provide recreational facilities and nurture talent, the depart- awarded to the contractor who is expected to start construction.
ment embarked on an initiative to improve sports facilities, (NHIF) subscription for selected
starting with the Gusii Stadium. A perimeter fence has already
been erected around the stadium. Construction works in the
beneficiaries across the county.
first phase of the project include expansion of the running track,

Honing vocational skills for employment
We have employed 965 ECDE teachers, built over 200 classrooms and disbursed KShs430m
in bursaries to needy students to access education
Dr. Skitta Ocharo
CEC Education, Labour and
Manpower Deveolpment
A
s outlined in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitu-
tion of Kenya, 2010, Counties are mandated to
manage Early Childhood Development Education
(ECDE) and vocational education. Counties have been as-
signed pre-primary education, childcare facilities, village
polytechnics and home craft centres. All other levels of
education, including funding, is with the national govern-
ment. Prior to the inception of the county government,
pre-primary and village polytechnic functions were run by
the national government and were faced by challenges,
including inadequate staff and infrastructure.
The department discharges its mandate through the di-
rectorates of Early Childhood Education and Vocational
Training. The department has come up with policies on
registration of ECDE centres, registration of ECD teach-
ers, management of village polytechnics, registration of
village polytechnics and; quality assurance and standards
in ECDE centres and village polytechnics.
Key achievements
Enabling legislation
The department has formulated four pieces of legislation
to support the implementation of its mandate:
• Kisii County Bursaries Fund (Amendment) Act,
2016
• Kisii County Village Polytechnics Management Act,
2015
• Kisii County Childcare Facilities Bill, 2014
• Kisii County Home Craft Centre Bill, 2014
Education stakeholders conference
In line with H.E. the Governor’s election pledge of im-
proving education standards in the county, a needs as-
sessment conducted for schools at the inception of the
County Government revealed that there were both finan-
cial and infrastructural constraints that burdened parents.
It also indicated that there was a gap in transition rates
from primary to secondary school. This was followed by
the first Kisii County Education Stakeholders Conference
at Kisii University to deliberate on critical educational is-
sues with the aim of improving academic standards in the
BEFORE
BEFORE
county. Following the successful conference, a taskforce was
formed to oversee the implementation of recommendations.
One of the major recommendations from the Education
Stakeholders Conference was that due to the prevailing pov-
erty in the county, many bright students were unable to con-
tinue with their education, thus denying the county human
capital that is crucial for development.
This became the basis for the establishment of the County
Bursary Fund whose prime objective is to boost transition
rates and promote retention in the county’s school system.
So far, a total of KShs420 million have been disbursed equal-
ly to each ward and benefited 117,669 learners.
Directorate of Early Childhood Development Education
(ECDE)
Before the inception of the County Government, most par-
ents bore the burden of paying salaries for ECDE teachers
and provision of infrastructure. As a result, enrolment was
low.
To increase enrolment, expand and improve Early Childhood
Care and Education, the county has:
• Constructed 180 ECD classrooms throughout the
county
• Initiated construction works on a further 263 class-
rooms that are ongoing
• Recruited and posted 965 ECDE teachers to public
schools in all 45 wards
• Procured and distributed play equipment, including
swings, slides and seesaws
These interventions have resulted in a tremendous increase
in enrolment in ECDE centres within public primary schools,
which stands at 79,182, compared to 64,440 previously. The
quality of learning has also improved, given that the current
teacher-student ratio has advanced from 1:46 to 1:38
Governor Ongwae addresses newly recruited ECD
teachers after their induction training.
Directorate of Vocational Education
• Achievements by this directorate include:
• Youth polytechnic workshops
To support this sub-sector, the county has invested in the
construction of modern classrooms and workshops. The goal
is to have at least one modern Vocational Training Centre
(VTC) in each of the 45 wards.
Number of VTCs and workshops
Vocational training cen-
tre at Masakwe Youth
Polytechnic in Sensi
Ward
AFTER
An ECDE classroom
at Matongo Primary
School in Bogiakumu
Ward, Bonchari Sub-
county before and after
devolution
AFTER
Kisii County Government 23
David Kebiro
Chief Officer Education,
Labour and Manpower
Deveolpment
Governor James Ongwae presents a cheque to beneficiaries during the launch of the
Kisii County Bursary Fund. Deputy Governor Joash Maangi (left),KCB John Momanyi and
KSSHA Chairman Jairus Onchoke look on.
Before devolution After devolution Total
Vocational Training Centres 39 19 58
Workshops 39 54 93
The county has also distributed tools and equipment to 31 VTCs, including cookers, sewing ma-
chines and hairdressing equipment. The county has further employed 120 instructors on permanent
and pensionable terms. An additional 150 instructors will be employed in the current financial year.
To improve supervision of curriculum instruction in VTCs, the county has employed quality assur-
ance and standards officers.
Future Plans
• The county will implement a business model approach in the youth polytechnics to guarantee
sustainability in the management of the institutions
• The county also plans to incorporate e-learning for the ECDE and vocational training centres.
Bursary enabled me pursue my
education dream - Barongo
I
am proud of the Kisii County Education Bursary Fund. It
enabled me offset my fee balances on time and prepare
for my final exams at the Kenya Medical Training college,
Kisii campus.
I come from a humble background, being the third-born in a
family of six. My father died in 2006 when I was in Standard
Eight. But my dear mother has ensured we go to school.
I was unsure of completing my studies within three years be-
cause you cannot be allowed to sit for the final exams if you
have fee arrears. So, when I heard that the kitty was open
specifically for needy college students in 2014, I applied by
filling the official forms and returned them to our Riana Ward
offices. I was awarded the bursary days later. I again applied
successfully last year.
With an assurance that if I combined the bursaries and what
my mother raised I would offset the fee balance, I had a
peace of mind to prepare well for the Kenya National Exami-
With an
nations Council exams. God willing, I will graduate in Decem- assurance that
ber with a Diploma in Medical Laboratory, which will be a key if I combined
milestone in my life. It will help me secure a stable job from the bursaries
whence I will earn an income and help my mother pay fees and what my
for my siblings.
mother raised
I want to dismiss the notion amongst needy students that it is
difficult to get bursary. Your institution has a segment in the I would offset
forms where they comment about you. You need to prove the fee balance,
that you deserve the money through your good performance I had a peace of
in class. The bursary committee receives several applications mind to prepare
and closely scrutinise each case and ensures fairness.
well for the
While the bursary cannot entirely support every needy case, Kenya National
it is my belief that going forward, cash allocated to the kitty
will be increased. This will in turn mean that an individual Examinations
student gets an amount commensurate to the arrears he or Council exams.
she has.
In short, this bursary is the best thing that has ever happened
to total and partial orphans and all needy students in Kisii. I
encourage them to take advantage of the kitty, study to the
best of their ability and transform the lives of their families
and the county at large in future. Kudos to the Kisii County
government!
-Francis Barongo from Bokora village in Riana Ward is a proud beneficiary of the
Kisii County Education Bursary. He is a former student at the Kenya Medical Training
College, Kisii Campus and will graduate in December 2016.
Story by Joshua Araka/Kisii County
24 Kisii County Government
Positioning Kisii to attract investments
We have improved market infrastructure to attract investors, supported entrepreneurial
ability, as well as positioning Kisii County as an unrivaled commercial hub in the region.
Kebati Osoro
CEC Trade, Tourism and
Industry
T
he Department of Trade, Tourism and Industry is one of the ten line departments in
the County. It is charged with the promotion of trade, industrial development, in-
vestments and Liquor licensing. It discharges its core mandate through the di-
rectorates of Weights and Measures, Trade, Liquor Licensing and Tourism respectively.
Projects implemented in this department are aimed at providing necessary market infrastructure,
attract investment, enhance existing entrepreneurial ability as well as reinforce the position of
Kisii County as a commercial hub in the region.
Key Achievements
Enabling Legislation • Investment Policy;
The following legislations have been enacted: • Investment Guide.
• Kisii County Trade Credit Scheme Act, Market Development
2015; The County embarked on the improvement
• Kisii County Trade and Markets Act, 2015; of markets across the 45 wards through the
construction of new ones and providing basic
• Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2015;
• Tourism policy facilities to the existing ones as summarized
below.
• Licensing policy;
Completed Projects Ward
Construction of Market Toilets Bogusero, Tendere Boochi, Keumbu, Kiogoro,
Bombaba, Borabu, Bogeka, Nyatieko, Sensi, Ichuni,
Gesusu, Nyamasibi, Bogiakumu, Riana.
Construction of Sheds Ongoing Projects Chitago Borabu, Bomorenda Ward
Market Toilets Kenyerero, Rionyiego, Kisii Town, Keumbu, Omor-
ingamu, Eronge, Nyakeyo, Gesieka, Nyabitunwa,
Igembe, Ramasha, Ibacho, Nyabieyo.
Market Sheds Omosaria, Matunwa, Matierio, Nyamache, Riosiri,
Tabaka.
Before the County government came into being, such challenges as inadequate space for selling
their products traders in various market centres had problems of inadequate space to sell their
products, The department in this regard, has constructed markets in the 45 wards in Kisii County.
Daraja Mbili Market improvement partnerships. In February this year, we success-
fully held the first ever Kisii Entrepreneurship
Daraja Mbili market is the second largest open-
air market in the Nyanza region after Kibuye in Summit (KES 2016). The three-day high impact
Summit brought together local, regional and
Kisumu and therefore, places the county as an
economic hub in the region. However, the mar- international investors to a platform where we
showcased trade and investment opportunities
ket has been facing challenges of inadequate
basic facilities. in Kisii County.
Following the summit, we have managed to
The county, in collaboration with the National
Government, has embarked on upgrading the sign contractual agreements with a number of
investors. Firstly, we have signed an agreement
market. Phase I of the project involves comple-
tion of the stalled market building at a cost of with an investor on the establishment of a
KShs5billion sugar complex in South Mogiran-
KShs204 million.
go. Modalities to actualise this project are on
Construction works include three additional
course and preliminary approvals for the proj-
floors to house a wholesale market, cold
ect have been given. When ready, the sugar
rooms, a police post, cyber cafes, ATMs, offices
complex will crush 5,000 tonnes of sugarcane
and kiosks. The market will have loading bays
per day and produce 172,500 metric tonnes of
and once complete in June next year, traders
sugar making it the second largest sugar fac-
who currently sell their wares along the road
tory in Kenya after Mumias. Additionally, the
will be relocated to the new facility.
sugar complex will produce 15 million litres of
The county will construct access roads, addi- ethanol and 10 Megawatts of power.
tional sheds, washrooms and stone pitching on
The factory will be a major boon to our coun-
Rivers Nyakomisaro and Nyanchwa.
ty’s agriculture sector of our economy as it not
only improve earnings to farmers but also cre-
ate about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for
our people.
Secondly, we signed a KShs12 billion agree-
ment with another Investor for the building of
a new city in Kisii County. This project will ad-
dress the need for residential and commercial
space while creating over 20,000 direct and
indirect jobs for our people.
To implement the project, the firm will set up
one pre-cast plant in Kisii County and will train
1,000 youth and women for employment in
A washroom at Gesonso market in the first year. The plant will serve 13 Counties
Bogiakumu ward in the
The Kisii Entrepreneurship Summit (KES 2016) We are in the process of identifying a site for
the construction of the city and already, we
There exists viable investment opportunities
have in place a technical liaison committee to
in the county derived from the local resources
liaise with the National Government and other
but the opportunities have for a long time re-
stakeholders. Thirdly, we forged a partnership
mained untapped due to lack of a platform to
with the United Nations Conference on Trade
showcase existing and potential investment
and Development (UNCTAD) for training inno-
and business opportunities to the local, region-
vators in Kisii County. I have tasked the Depart-
al and international investors and a network
ments of Trade and Administration to fast track
platform for negotiating joint ventures and
John Obwocha
Chief Officer Trade,
Tourism and Industry
Governor James Ongwae (centre) hosts UNCTAD Secretary General Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi and CoG
chair Peter Munya, Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and other guests during the Summit.
the actualization of this partnership. We are working with the World Intellectual
Finally, we signed a deal with leading voice, Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Kenya
data and Internet Service Provider Liquid Tele- Intellectual Property Institute (KIPI) to protect
com who will invest KShs6billion in connectivity soapstone as a geographical feature and safe-
guard the intellectual property rights of artistes.
projects. The firm will invest in connecting the
County Government with its devolved units, set Already, an investor has set a private processing
up metro Wi-Fi in Kisii Town and interconnec- factory in South Mogirango to engage in value
tivity with Isebania along the Kenya-Tanzania addition. The factory will produce fine soap-
border. stone powder to be used as an additive in the
The effect of this investment will lead to im- manufacture of Kaolin.
proved mobile phone services, better retail
facilities in Kisii Town and boost entrepreneur-
ship due to the free Wi-Fi. We continue to real-
ize more fruits as we conclude discussions with
other investors.
The Kisii County Trade Credit scheme
Inadequate business finance is one of the prin-
cipal causes of business failure in the County.
To address this challenge facing the traders, the
County government initiated a revolving credit
scheme that provides affordable access to busi-
ness finance to the micro, small and medium
enterprises.
With the enabling legislation in place, we have
set up a board to manage the funds and the
County assembly has given necessary approvals.
Once the board is gazetted, small and Medium A sculpture made from Kisii Stone. The
County has plans to support soapstone
Enterprises can make applications to get funding
from this scheme. mining in Kisii.
Through this scheme, 200 youth have acquired
motorcycles (bodaboda) through their Savings
and Credit Cooperative Society. Most the benefi-
ciaries were initially working as riders for own- Creating an enabling environment
ers of the motorbikes but now they have been
Since the inception of the County Government,
empowered to become entrepreneurs.
the financial sector in Kisii has experienced tre-
Boda boda sheds mendous growth with the number of commer-
cial banks rising from 13 in 2013 to 22 currently.
The boda boda is a fast growing sector that has
created jobs for thousands of youth in the Coun- Insurance firms present in Kisii have grown from
nine in 2013 to 17 currently. Indeed, statistics
ty. To support this thriving industry, the County
has built 200 boda boda sheds (four per ward) from the Central Bank in Kisumu indicate that
to improve the working conditions of the boda Kisii controls 60 percent of the money market
boda operators. in Nyanza. To support this growth, CBK plans to
establish a money-clearing house in Kisii.
Soapstone
Soapstone is a unique rock that is only found in
Kisii County. The bedrock of this stone spreads
over 40 square kilometres and experts estimate
that only 20 percent has been exploited so far.
Much of the soapstone is mined crudely and ex-
ported as a raw material or used to make figu-
rines. Soapstone can be manipulated to make
products including talc powder, ceramics and
paint among others. However, miners, carvers
and artistes have not benefitted fully from this
unique rock.
The County has developed the Soapstone Mining
Policy that outlines what soapstone is, owner-
ship, trading, value addition and marketing of its
products. It also spells out measures to ensure
owners of soapstone benefit and prevent exploi- A boda boda shed at Motonto market in
tation from middlemen. Bomachoge Chache.
 Kisii County Government 25

Planning urban areas to spur economic growth

The county has installed over 200 solar lights in Kisii Township, 230 across all the nine
sub-county headquarters and 32 market centres. This has helped transform Kisii Town
Moses Onderi into a 24-hour economy. Alice Nyariki
CEC Lands, Housing, Physical Chief Officer Lands,
Planning and Urban Housing, Physical
Development Planning and Urban
Development

T
he department derives its mandate from the Forth During the 2016/2017 financial year, the department will install
Schedule to the Constitution of Kenya, 2010; the a further 360 solar streetlights in 30 new centres throughout the
County Government Act 2012; and the Urban Areas county and increase the number of high-mast lights in some cen-
and Cities Act, 2011. It is responsible for dispensing de- tres.
volved functions such as:
• Land surveying and mapping Waste management
• Provision of infrastructural facilities
Before devolution, Kisii County had only one waste management
• Land use planning site in Kisii Township. But the county has since purchased another
• Provision of affordable housing waste management site at Etora in Bomachoge Chache Sub-Coun-
ty and is in the process of purchasing other sites to decongest the
Streetlighting existing ones.
• Vetting and verification of building plans The county is also purchasing two more tipper trucks and two
compactors for the same in other urban centres such as Ogembo
• Waste removal services
and Nyamache.
• Land use regulation
Waste management sites, equipment and groups
The department discharges its mandate through three di-
rectorates namely; Lands and Physical Planning, Urban De- Project Before Current situation
velopment and Housing. devolution
Our motto is: Excellence in Land Management for Sustain- Waste management 1 2
able Development sites
Tractors, tipper trucks 2 3 tractors, 2
and compactors compactors BEFORE AFTER
Youth groups 0 Kisii Town (5), The County launched an Integrated Cleaning Service and bought
Keumbu (1), refuse compactors to ensure improved cleanliness of urban areas.
Keroka (1)
The county plans to have cleaning groups in each of the nine sub-
counties. The county is also in the process of seeking private inves-
and spacious passage for pedestrians.
tors to recycle waste and process it into usable items, manure and
green energy. This will create jobs for the people and decongest Ogembo town
the waste management sites. A number of roads were rehabilitated to enhance access and create
an enabling trading environment in this second largest town of Kisii
County. The roads include:
Urban roads and bus parks
A section of the solar streetlights intalled by the
• Petrol Station - Nyabiuto Road
In a bid to increase the road network for people to access ameni-
County in Kisii Town sparking the growth of a 24 hour ties like markets, schools and hospitals as well as reduce conges- • Ogembo PAG - Bw’ondege Road
economy. • JANS Hotel Road
tion of the markets and Kisii Town, the county has constructed
access urban roads in Keroka, Ogembo, Kisii Town and Suneka. • Kemboa - Aspen Road,
Key achievements
The county has been able to do cabro works in Kisii Town as well • Grinsphere Shoppers Road
Enabling legislation as pedestrian walkways. The construction of bus terminuses in • Kenya Women – Police road
The department has prepared the following pieces of legis- Keumbu, (80 per cent complete) and Ogembo along the Kisii-Kilgo- • Ogembo Open Air Market
lation to operationalise its mandate: ris road, has created ample space for disembarking and picking up
of passengers, and led to the reduction of accidents that were fre- • Public Works - Posta Road
• Kisii County Rating Act, 2015
quent in these areas. • Fortcrest – Gucha Tech – Elsa Road
• Kisii County Pounds Bill
• Okindo – Getare Road
• Kisii County Directorate of Building and Construction
Bill
• Kisii County Housing Bill, 2015 Keroka town
• Kisii County Survey and Mapping Bill, 2015 The county has opened/rehabilitated backstreet roads up to murram
level to improve accessibility and enhance businesses in the back-
As per the provisions of the Urban Areas and Cities Act,
streets. The roads include:
2011, the department has created the Kisii County Land
Management Board. • Gucha Hospital –Etundubari (tea buying centre)- main tarmac
road
• Gucha Hospital- Riondabu Road
Urban Development
• Kenol Petro Station – Otange along the main road and Etun-
Integrated street lighting dubari market
Before the inception of the County Government, the de-
funct county and town councils had 70 streetlight poles Keumbu
spread across the county. A pedestrian walkway built by the County in Kisii Town.
Keumbu is a growing town due to its strategic position next to the
These have since been taken over by the County Govern-
Kisii-Nairobi Road. Farmers in the town enjoy a ready market for
ment. In order to extend the working hours of businesspeo-
Kisii Town their fresh farm produce like bananas, vegetables, avocado and sug-
ple in Kisii and enhance secure environment, the director-
ate has managed to put up streetlights - both high-mast and To enhance access to Kisii Town from both the main and back- arcane. To promote these farmers’ business, the county has invested
solar lights - across the main urban centres and markets. It streets, and to decongest population pressure on the CBD, several
managed to install 200 solar lights in Kisii Township, 230 access roads have opened to decongest the CBD and enhance busi-
across all the nine sub-county headquarters and 32 market ness activities in those areas. Some of the access roads opened
centres across the county. The streetlights have had a tre- include:
mendous impact on the economy of Kisii Town by making • Daraja Moja- Culture Hall
it a 24-hour economy. • Ram Hospital - Tuskeys,
Integrated street lighting • Hashi Petrol- Umoja Centre
• KCB – AM Taylor
Project Before devolution Current state
• Kanyoni - Masaba Hardware
Streetlights (high- 0 34
• Dados - Nyachae Flats
mast)
• RAM Mortuary – Rehema Academy Road
Energy streetlights 70 70 • Makutano – Getare Junction Road, among others
Solar Streetlights 0 430 The county has also completed Mashauri- County Executive Front- Part of the construction work at Keumbu bus park. The County is
expanding the facility to accomodate traders who currently sell
age-Police line-Co-operative Bank walkway, which provides safe
Total 70 534 wares on the roadside.
26 Kisii County Government

a lot in the market to make it safe and conducive for business. Lands and Physical Planning
Sub County High Mast Lights
A robust street lighting project has resulted in extended trading To enable land allocation between competing uses and ensure
hours, which has greatly benefited the farmers. A modern bus the creation of sustainable human settlements, the department Bonchari 3
park is in construction to help disembark passengers from the undertakes land use planning. The county has completed plans
Bobasi 3
trading area. for Nyamache. The preparation of the Integrated Urban Develop-
ment Plan for Ogembo town is ongoing. Bomachoge Borabu 2
Sanitation blocks
The county has also revised the local physical development plan Bomachoge Chache 4
The county has constructed washrooms across the urban centres
for Mogonga, vetted and verified building plans, and taken stock
in the county for traders and members of the public. This has South Mugirango 2
of public land, which it has also beaconed.
improved sanitation in urban centres and eased the functioning
of the business community in Kisii. The youth and women groups Kitutu Chache North 3
manage the ablution blocks as income-generating activities. Challenges Kitutu Chache South 2
Table 3. The county faces challenges, such as lack of land for waste man-
Nyaribari Masaba 5
agement in the main urban centres due to lack of willing sellers.
Project Before devolution As at 2016 The county is seeking willing sellers within Keumbu to acquire Nyaribari Chache 3
Kisii Town 3 7 land for a waste management site that will help in decongesting
the old site in Kisii Township. Kisii Town 8
Keumbu 1 3 Total 35
Keroka 1 3 Sub County Solar Lights Installed
Masimba 1 2 Bonchari 19
Nyamache 1 2 Bobasi 29
Ogembo 1 3 Bomachoge Borabu 30
Suneka 1 2 Bomachoge Chache 23
Marani 1 2 South Mugirango 40
Kenyenya 1 2 Kitutu Chache North 38
Nyamarambe 1 2 Kitutu Chache South 25
Total 12 28 Nyaribari Masaba 6
The county will construct more washrooms in upcoming urban Nyaribari Chache 13
centres and markets like Daraja Mbili.
Kisii Town 231
Total 454

In a bid to increase the road network

A backstreet road built by the County using cabro behind
Kenya Commercial Bank in Kisii Town.
for people to access amenities like
markets, schools and hospitals as
well as reduce congestion of the
markets and Kisii Town, the county
has constructed access urban roads
Part of the solar street lights installed at Suguta market in
in Keroka, Ogembo, Kisii Town and South Mugirango Sub County.
Suneka.

Nyantika the barefoot

runner who made history
at the world stage
On competition day, barefoot Maiyoro Nyantika was
busy warming up when the 10,000-metre race started.
His trainer, Archie Evans, did not hear Nyantika’s name
being called out over the public address system, but a
sympathiser came looking for him.

S
ome forty-six years ago,
an African ‘native’ trav-
elled by ship to the French
colony of Madagascar to repre-
sent Kenya in its first interna-
tional athletics competition.
The young man and his English
trainer faced many handicaps,
including a language barrier and
the oppressive humidity on the
island.
On competition day, bare-
foot Maiyoro Nyantika was
busy warming up when the
10,000-metre race started. His
trainer, Archie Evans, did not
hear Nyantika’s name being
called out over the public ad-
dress system, but a sympathiser
came looking for him. By the
time Nyantika arrived at the sta-
dium, the pack was already 100
metres into the race.
Nyantika rushed onto the track
like a possessed man amid jeers
from the spectators. By lap 23,
he had closed the gap. He was
level with the leaders on the
25th lap. A smile spread across
the face of the pitch-black run-
ner. What followed was folklore
repeated many times today.
Nyantika took out a dry mon-
key’s tail from under his shirt
and stuck it in the back of his
shorts.
To shouts of “monkey! Mon-
key!” Nyantika moved out
ahead of the pack and opened
up a huge gap, which he main-
tained to the end.
From a monkey to a hero, Nyan-
tika’s fame spread like bush fire.
Assembled journalists were
as interested in his colour as
with his bare feet, which were
cracked from years of walking
on Gusii terrain.
Two years later, Nyantika was
among six athletes who repre-
sented the Kenya Colony in its
first appearance at the Olympic
Games in Melbourne, Australia.
He finished sixth in the 10,000
metre race.
 Kisii County Government 27

Traditional African Rock Art

Ong’esa, a retired fine art tutor, has agitated for the preservation of traditional rock art sites on
soapstone and other limestone rocks within Kisii since 1968.

A
short climb up the steep slope of Sameta
hill in Kisii County leads to a clearing sur-
rounded by a mixture of indigenous and
exotic tree species.
Shiny rocks of varying sizes lie by the winding
path up the hill. Almost all the rock surfaces
appear scratched, but a closer look reveals ab-
stract patterns that are repeated on many of
the rocks.
Local and foreign tourists visiting the site en-
gage in heated arguments about the meaning
of the patterns.
Cupules similar to those of the traditional ajua
game appear on some of the rock surfaces,
while others have snake-like patterns with four
holes.
On another rock, the cupules are large and have
furrows that open into a cusp at the base.
These are part ancient traditional rock art sites
that are threatened with destruction by human
activity. They could be well over 1,000 years
old.
Local and international sculptors taking part at
the African Stones Talk Symposium in Kisii took
a day off to visit the rock art sites.
“This is not graffiti. These patterns were usually
done for spiritual reasons and have an attached
meaning that cannot be easily discerned. Cu-
Cupules similar to those of
the traditional ajua game
appear on some of the
rock surfaces, while others
have snake-like patterns
with four holes.
pules in rocks have been found in other parts of
the African continent like Egypt, Zimbabwe and
Sahara Desert,” says Trust for African Rock Art
(TARA) chairman, David Coulson.
Coulson, a facilitator at the symposium, said
the rock art is recognized as having spiritual
significance and is protected in other countries.
“The snake-like marks described the route up
this hill. Our forefathers used to play ajua on
the rocks as they waited for their colleagues,”
explains John Onsare Mayieka, 52, a local resi-
dent.
Other elders argue the patterns used to give di-
rections, while others claim men and women
used to grind powder from the limestone rocks
for ornamental purposes.
Yet other people claim the cupules were cre-
ated for use in preparing medicine. “We were
told that Kisii men used to grind powder (em-
bondo) from the granite for use during ceremo-
nies. Some of these patterns have been covered
by soil, while others have been used as building
material,” says Meshack Marita, 60.
Similar rock art sites can be found at Gotichaki
and Nyabigena near the soapstone-rich Tabaka
region, but miners quarrying for the valuable
Kisii stone have destroyed them.
“This is arguably the artistic origin of the Kisii
people which is now in danger of destruction.
It is a heritage that will disappear if not pro-
tected,” warns renowned international sculp-
tor, Elkana Ong’esa.
Ong’esa, a retired fine art tutor, has agitated
for the preservation of traditional rock art sites
on soapstone and other limestone rocks within
Kisii since 1968.
Ancient Traditional African Rock Art at Sameta in Bobasi Sub County. The County has mapped
out tourist attraction sites to boost the sector.
“These art forms may have been fairly repre-
sentational and some confuse them for ajua
boards, but some of the patterns lie on steep
rock edges. It is not practical to play any game
on a vertical surface, meaning these patterns
have a hidden meaning,” he argues.
He goes on to explain that the traditional Ke-
nyan ajua game has eight rows and 10 holes
aside, while the Kisii rock art has four rows and
10 holes.
“Some shapes are zigzagged, while others form
human faces and the same have been found in
Egypt and the Atlas Mountains. Some represent
human beings, animals or possibly the plane-
tary system,” he claims.
Ong’esa says that rock art in Kisii may have
been made by other cultures that occupied the
region before as the history of the Gusii com-
munity is barely 400 years old.
He calls for the preservation of the rock art
sites as technology used to study the art form
is not yet fully developed.
“There may be findings from future studies
that can reveal the history of the region. Simi-
lar prehistoric art patterns have been found in
Karamoja and other parts of the region along
the River Nile. This may have been a language
of expression that could have a message for
us,” he notes.
Experts called on the government to step in and
compensate owners of lands around the sites
and protect them for posterity.
Coulson says traditional rock art is a heritage
that should be accorded the same treatment
like the Egyptian pyramids, for tourism pur-
poses.
Lydia Galavu, a curator with the National Muse-
ums of Kenya, urges Kenyans to notify the Sites
and Monuments Directorate in the Ministry of
National Heritage and Culture of heritage sites
at risk of destruction.
“The community can notify the museum if
some heritage is at risk of being lost and our of-
ficials will take appropriate action. We support
all forms of creative art,” she promised.
Ten international artists worked with local art-
ists in an apprenticeship programme to carve
granite and soapstone as part of the month-
long symposium.
“The museum will host the products of the
symposium at our Uhuru Gardens site for a year
as a way of promoting and protecting visual
art,” Galavu added.

We have received training and support from the county

government, and this has enabled us improve on the quality of the
bananas - Askah
In 2004, she decided to dry ba-
nanas and make crisps from a
bunch she had harvested from
her parents’ farm in Nyangorora.
The crisps were so sweet that her
mother, Norah, encouraged her to
consider packaging the product to
make it more appealing.
Askah, who comes from a very
humble background, dropped out
of college in 2004 due to lack of
fees. All she had was a certificate
in business management from a
college in Kisumu.
A sweet story of banana crisps “I came back home and started
deep-frying and salting bananas.
I sold a bunch for KShs1,200. My
2013 in a pilot project funded by
the Kenya Industrial Research and
Development Institute (Kirdi), in
partnership with the Kisii County
government.
“We have received training and
support from the county govern-
ment, and this has enabled us im-
prove on the quality of the banan-
as,” she says.
The 34-year-old mother of two,
nicknamed ‘the banana queen of
Kisii,’ says the award was a highly
appreciated recognition for her
seven-year struggle to introduce
improved banana products into the
Kenyan market.
“Middlemen buy a bunch of our
produce for KShs100. This is very
discouraging to hardworking farm-
ers,” she explained. “But with our
technology, we can offer farmers
higher returns,” she added.
Askah is not worried of run-
ning short of raw bananas for her
plant. Kisii is a renowned banana-
producing region in the country.
In fact, she wants to scale up her
production and supply wholesalers
and retailers in the wider Nyanza
region.
Her goal is to set up a complete ba-
nana processing plant at a cost of
KShs25 million. “We are targeting

T
he success story behind complete
value addition process in Kisii Coun-
ty can only be told by highlighting
the story behind Askah Nyakwara, the
KShs1 million winner of the county’s in-
novation award.   competition. Askah’s success story began those who sampled the product
For Askah, value addition has enabled her
make as much as KShs2,000 per bunch of
bananas, besides prolonging the shelf-life
of the produce.
“Value addition helps eliminate oversup- journey as a banana crisps manu- Her firm won the hearts of the over 12 different snacks from bananas,”
ply in the market and boosts a farmer’s facturer began there,” she says. five judges during the inaugural Ki- she revealed.
bargaining power,” says Askah. “I sold the crisps to people in my sii Entrepreneurship Summit. The The burgeoning entrepreneur says
She won the KShs1 million at the Kisii village, including primary school processing plant produces banana her major challenge is marketing
Entrepreneurship Summit innovation pupils. More than 90 per cent of flour, crisps, wine and cake, among and competing with established
other products. players in the market.
with her desire to offer something dif- loved it.” Farmers in Kisii have for long pro-
ferent through complete full crop value Through Nyangorora Banana Pro- tested the poor banana prices,
chain process initiated by the county gov- cessing Plant, Askah has been pro- with a bunch going for as little as
ernment early in 2013. ducing banana crisps since May KShs100.
28 Kisii County Government
Investment opportunities
Favourable climatic conditions leading to high agricultural
produce, especially tea, coffee, fruits and vegetables. These
provide readily available raw materials for agro-based industries
F
ollowing the advent of devolution,
the people of Kisii, in collaboration
with the county government, can
now determine their development priori-
ties. This ambition can also be achieved
by working with local, regional and inter-
national investors.
The county government promotes invest-
ment in Kisii through several initiatives,
including the Kisii Entrepreneurship Sum-
mit (KES). The county is harnessing its
competitive advantage to position Kisii
as the preferred regional investment hub
and has published the Kisii County Invest-
ment Guide, Kisii County Investment Poli-
cy, Kisii County Fact Book and Best of Kisii
to attract investment to the county.
The county’s investment policy frame-
work aims to ensure that the develop-
as a one-stop centre to process invest-
ment and growth of the economy con-
ment related protocols.
tribute to improvements in the lives of all
Kisii County residents and provide a sus-
The competitive advantage
tainable environment for the future. • Strategic positioning of the county
The policy provides various incentives and as a gateway to other destinations
guarantees to potential investors as well like Maasai Mara, Kisumu Interna-
Investment opportunities
The Kisii County Investment Policy has identified the following
sectors to drive the investment process in the county:
Manufacturing
• Animal feeds production
• Bottling of soft drinks, fresh juice and drinking water
• Maize milling and production of flour
• Tanneries for leather processing
• Honey processing
• Plastic crushing and recycling of waste
• Edible oil extraction
• Milk packing and processing into yoghurt, cheese, ice
cream, mala etc.
Agro-processing
• Sugar factory to cater for sugar production in the county,
as well as processing of cane juice
• Banana factory to process banana flour, banana crisps,
dried bananas, chips, and wine
• Avocado factory to extract oil, process juice, soap and
shampoo etc.
• Pineapple factory for juice extraction
• Tea processing, packaging and marketing
• Coffee processing, packaging and marketing
• Sweet potato factory for dried chips and potato chips
• Canning for preservation
Trade
• Establishment of new modern markets (as Build Operate
and Transfer projects) equipped with cold rooms, ware-
houses, office space, eateries, parking space, indoor sports
The county’s investment policy
framework aims to ensure that
the development and growth
of the economy contribute to
improvements in the lives of all
Kisii County residents and provide
a sustainable environment for the
future.
<<< Governor James Ongwae (left) signs an MoU
with Boleyn Magic Wall Panel CEO Jack Liu for the
construction of a KShs.12billion new city in Kisii.
based industries
• Infrastructural development and improved inter-county
connectivity
tional Airport, Tanzania and Ruma • Stable, secure and vibrant economic activities by a hard-
National Park working population
• Favourable climatic conditions • Entrepreneurial, hardworking and skilled human re-
leading to high agricultural produce, source, and a big a population that provides a ready
especially tea, coffee, fruits and market for goods and services
vegetables. These provide readily
available raw materials for agro-
facilities, recreational parks and other amenities. ceramic tiles, paint, chalk, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics,
• Construction of shopping mall in Kisii Town, business coatings and insulators
stalls/exhibition centres • Supply and production of modern mining tools
• Establishment of modern wholesale and retail markets • Production of ballast for construction
• Development of marketing infrastructure for fresh pro- • Production of carvings moulds and handcrafts
duce • Production of whisky stones
Tourism
Infrastructure development
• Construction and maintenance of roads
• Road machinery and equipment for hiring and leasing
• Consultancy and capacity building in road construction
• Clearing and forwarding
Energy
• Provision of alternative forms of energy like solar, fireless
cookers, biogas and wind energy
• The establishment of three-star hotels and conferencing
• Establishment of mini hydroelectric power plants at river
facilities
Gucha and Mosocho
• Development of eco- homes, home stays and cultural
• Street lighting, pole treatment and fabrication of electrici-
tourism
ty lamp poles
• Development of sporting facilities, casinos, movie thea-
• Garbage collection and disposal
tres, entertainment spots and film locations
• Establishment of nature walks and trekking tracks within
the agro-forestry tourism circuit
• Provision of travel and tour operation services
• Provision of recreational facilities for local and interna-
tional tourist
Housing
• Construction of commercial buildings
• Production of building materials such as bricks, ballast,
roofing materials, nails, electrical materials etc.
• Development of office and rental parking space
• Consultancy in construction and housing development
• Real estate agencies
Water
• Mineral water bottling
Mining
• Production of carbonated soft drinks
• Establishment of soapstone factory for manufacture of

Empowering women, girls and the vulnerable
Elizabeth Ongwae has cut her own niche and embarked on projects that resonate with women, girls
Elizabeth Ongwae
First Lady- Kisii County
Mrs. Elizabeth Ongwae (centre) hosts First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at the Kisii Teaching and Referral
Hospital during the launch of Beyond Zero campaign. They visited women who had undergone corrective
fistula surgery.
M
rs. Elizabeth Ongwae an educationist
by profession and the spouse of the
Governor James Ongwae has forged
a unique platform to champion important so-
cial and development goals and made strides
by mobilizing resources and rallying residents
to support the cause of women and girl chil-
dren. Milestones of the Office of the First Lady
Inadequate access to quality healthcare, Gen-
der Based Violence, low financial literacy, high
dropout rates especially among the girl child,
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and a high HIV
prevalence rate are some of the challenges fac-
ing womenfolk in Kisii.
With the support of the County Govern-
ment and other collaborators, Mrs. Ong-
wae has made strides in addressing the
plight of the disadvantaged in Kisii County.
Support to the vulnerable
Mrs. Ongwae supports children with special
needs, orphans, and street children. She donates
foodstuffs, beddings as well as teaching and
learning materials to special schools and chil-
dren homes.
Abandonment of FGM
Mrs. Ongwae has upped efforts to protect the
girl child from harmful cultural practices like Fe-
male Genital Mutilation (FGM) that is still widely
practiced in the Gusii community.
Statistics from the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA) indicate that the FGM prevalence
stands at 95 per cent which is a high figure con-
sidering the spirited interventions by the govern-
ment and NGO’s.
“Dangers of FGM are enormous but the practice
is still considered important. Our girls have lost
their lives during the process, others have de-
veloped complications like Fistula, HIV/Aids and
infertility and this is why we advocate for aban-
donment of this practice,” she explains.
Kisii County Government 29
and the vulnerable.
Mrs. Ongwae has partnered with Freedom From
Fistula (F3) to support women who undergo fis-
tula surgeries at the Kisii Teaching and Referral
Hospital (KTRH). Mrs. Ongwae organizes free
medical camps in collaboration with the KTRH
and Kenya Health, an Australian Charity that
provides medical care and education to moth-
ers and children.
Using the Beyond Zero Mobile Clinic donated
by First Lady Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, she has
facilitated residents in remote parts of the
County to access healthcare.
During the medical camps, the County’s Beyond
Zero Mobile Clinic is availed and residents are
provided free screening and treatment from
various ailments.
“We appreciate the County Government’s con-
tribution towards improving health services by
equipping all hospitals and purchasing ambu-
lances which have helped women with compli-
cations,” she notes.
With Partners, Mrs. Ongwae organizes anti- FGM
camps annually where girls drawn from each of
the 45 wards undergo alternative rites of pas-
sage.
The training equips girls with life skills to avoid
teenage pregnancy, reject FGM and fight for
their rights.
“As a mother I clearly understand that the joy
of a woman is to give birth to a healthy baby.
It pains to learn that mothers die in prevent-
able causes. It is my wish to help the vulnerable
women and children who form a substantial
percentage of the populace of the county,” she
says.
The Girl Child
In order to ensure retention in school particu-
larly for the girl child, she has worked with well
wishers to distribute sanitary towels to under- Mrs. Elizabeth Ongwae ( 3rd from right) when she was crowned for championing the
privileged girls. She says that she is touched by menstural hygiene management in Kisii County.
the plight of young girls who miss school be-
cause they cannot afford sanitary towels. Women Empowerment ering the economic lives of women.
Mrs. Ongwae, an Educationist, has also donated On women empowerment, Mrs. Ongwae has “Beneficiaries of the initiative are widows,
education packs to needy children in remote partnered with the Coca Cola Company to women living with disabilities and the poor
schools says that she started supporting edu- equip vulnerable women to start business. who cannot put food on the table. Women
cation long before her spouse was elected and The women drawn from all the 45 wards re- in Kisii carry the biggest burden of supporting
vows to continue supporting the course. ceived coolers and crates of sodas through the their families thus need to empower them,”
Currently, she also runs a successful scholarship company’s 5 by 20 initiative aimed at empow- she said.
program whose beneficiaries are in both nation-
al and provincial schools.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ongwae (right) hands over
sanitary towels to pupils at Tabaka primary
school.
Correcting obstetric fistula
“Many women who give birth at home lose their
children in the process or and develop either
Vesco Vaginal Fistula (FFV) or Obstetric Fistula.
I am happy that my efforts are bearing fruits as Mrs. Elizabeth Ongwae presents cheques from the Women Enterprise Fund to a women
records indicate that more women are giving group in Kisii.
birth in health facilities,” she said.
30 Kisii County Government

Some gallant sons and daughters of Kisii

Here is a profile of some of iconic personalities who have defined Kisii history and heritage. We salute
them and their contributions.
HON. SIMEON NYACHAE,EGH
S imeon Nyachae was born on
February 6, 1932 to the then
powerful colonial chief Musa
Nyandusi.
His father facilitated Nyachae’s
earlier exposure to western educa-
tion, having been a mission edu-
cated graduate.
His long career in the civil service
began after his studies in public ad-
ministration in London.
Upon his return to Kenya in 1960,
Nyachae was posted as a District
Officer in Kangundo Division. He
became a District Commissioner by
December 1963 when the Kenya
gained independence, and steadily
rose through the ranks within the
provincial administration to the
apex as a Provincial Commission-
er (between 1965–1979), before
moving on to become Chief Secre-
tary in the Civil Service in both the
Kenyatta and Moi regimes.
Nyachae was elected Nyaribari
Chache MP in 1992. He served as
Cabinet minister for Agriculture
and then for Finance in 1998. In
1999, he resigned from govern-
ment after being moved to the
less influential ministry of Industry.
He quit Kanu and formed his own
party, Ford-People, with which he
vied for the presidency in 2002,
sweeping all parliamentary seats
in Kisii. When President Kibaki’s
NARC-Coalition started to crum-
ble, the support of Ford-People be-
came most welcome and in 2004,
Nyachae became the minister for
Energy and later for Roads in the
Kibaki regime.
Nyachae lost his parliamentary
seat in 2007 after which he retired
from active politics. The doyen of
Gusii politics has invested in real
estate, agriculture, transport and
manufacturing.

HON. DR. ZACHARY ONYONKA,
EGH (Deceased)
Z achary Theodore Onyonka
was born on June 28, 1939, in
Meru, where his father, Godrico
Oeri Mairura, was a policeman.
The family left for Kisii after his fa-
ther resigned from the police force
to join the Provincial Administra-
tion as an assistant chief.
He attended Catholic schools —
St Mary’s Nyabururu in 1949 and
St Mary’s Yala, where he studied
till 1958. His schoolmates at Yala
included Peter Oloo Aringo who
later became a fellow Cabinet
minister.
After school, the Gusii County
Council employed Onyonka un-
til 1960. He was a beneficiary of
the famous education airlifts with
a scholarship to the University of
Puerto Rico in San Juan. He gradu-
ated in 1965 and in 1966, joined
Syracuse University, New York,
where he enrolled for a master’s
degree in economics, specialising
in money and banking. Upon com-
pleting his master’s, he embarked
on a doctoral degree at the same
university. Later, he joined the
University of Nairobi as a tutorial
fellow while working on his PhD,
before his graduation in 1969.
Thereafter, the University of Nai-
robi employed him as a lecturer in
the Department of Economics. His
peers included Chris Obure (now
a Cabinet minister), politician Da-
vid Kombo and former Permanent
Secretary, Sospeter Arasa.
Dr. Onyonka served as the Mem-
ber of Parliament (MP) for the
then Kitutu West Constituency. He
served in the Cabinet from 1969
to 1996 in the ministries of Trade,
Foreign Affairs, Education, Eco-
nomic Planning and Development.
He is remembered as the youngest
MP the country has ever had, hav-
ing joined elective politics at the
age of 25 years. He retained his
parliamentary seat until his death.

HON. JAMES MIYIENDA
NYAMWEYA (Deceased)
N yamweya was born in 1927 in
Kisii. In the late 1950s, he left
for the United Kingdom to study
law. His daughter, Joyce (a former
Permanent Secretary), was about
a year old, and his son, George
(former MP), only two weeks old
at the time. When he returned in
1959, the two children could not
recognise him. Nyamweya went
to Nyanchwa SDA Primary School
and later Kamagambo Mission
School, where he excelled and
earned a reputation as an avid
reader. He later joined Kamagambo
Secondary School. Unfortunately,
the missionaries discontinued the
secondary school section at the
school. But Nyamweya stayed
on and joined a teacher-training
course, after which he taught at
Nyanchwa, Sengera, Isecha and
Sironga. He then got admission to
Kings College, University of Lon-
don, for undergraduate studies. He
graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor
of Law degree.
Nyamweya served as the MP for
the then Nyaribari Constituency
from 1963 to 1976. He also held
several ministerial, parastatal and
political party leadership positions
in both the Kenyatta and Moi re-
gimes, from 1965 to 1995.
He was the Permanent Secretary
(PS) in the Ministry of Justice and
Constitutional Affairs, Assistant
Minister in the Office of the Presi-
dent, Minister of State in charge of
External Affairs, Minister of State
in Provincial Administration, Min-
ister for Works, Minister for Power
and Communication, Minister for
Labour, and later, Chairman of the
Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Nyamweya died on September
25,1995 while serving as the Na-
tional Vice Chairman of the Demo-
cratic Party. He is remembered
as the architect of Kenya’s labour
laws.

HON. LAWRENCE GEORGE
SAGINI, EGH (Deceased)
L awrence George Sagini was
born at Gesonso, Kisii, on Janu-
ary 1, 1926. He was the first son
of Ndemo Kibagendi and Esther
Nyanganyi. His father was the
president of the African Tribunal
Courts in Kisii.
Sagini was baptised when he was
a student at Mangu School. He
helped construct Ria’Sagini Catho-
lic Chapel which is named in his
honour. He also supported other
churches and self-help projects.
In appreciation, the Catholic
Church in Kenya selected him,
and seven others, to visit the Pope
and be honoured with a ‘knight-
hood.’ Paradoxically, the religious
background of Sagini’s family was
Seventh Day Adventist (SDA). His
mother was an SDA deaconess
when Sagini joined Mangu, a Cath-
olic school. But she later converted
to Catholicism, along with some
members of the Ndemo family.
Sagini started his primary edu-
cation in 1934 at Isecha Sector
School. His father and five wives
would in turn meet Sagini halfway
with porridge or food as he walked
home from school – those days
pupils walked long distances to
school. In 1937, Sagini joined the
Kisii Government African School
and then proceeded to Kabaa Man-
gu Holy Ghost College. His school-
mates included Andrew Omanga,
Moody Awori, Mwai Kibaki, Tom
Mboya, Lawrence Oguda and Chri-
santus Ogari. One of the memo-
rable events of the time was when
missionaries discouraged students
from using family names. This ex-
plains why officially, Sagini did not
use his father’s name, Ndemo. Af-
ter Mangu, Sagini went to Kagumo
Teachers’ Training College in Nyeri.
After graduation in 1950, he be-
came a teacher and rose to the
rank of headmaster before being
promoted to an education officer
in Central and South Nyanza.
In 1957, he quit teaching to pur-
sue a Bachelor of Arts degree in
sociology and political science at
Allegheny College in Pennsylva-
nia, United States. He graduated
with honours in 1959. Upon his
return, Sagini rejoined the teach-
ing profession and taught briefly
at Asumbi Teachers College. In
1960, the government appointed
him Assistant Education Officer,
a position he held until 1961. He
also became a member of the Pro-
vincial Council of the University of er became MP for Kitutu West in 1963. The
East Africa.
University of Nairobi awarded him a post-hu-
Sagini was the first elected Kisii mous doctorate for his role in development
representative to the Legislative of education in Kenya in November 1995. He
Council (LEGCO) in 1961 and lat- died in a car accident in 1996 aged 69

HON. ZEPHANIA MOGUNDE
ANYIENI (Deceased)
T he late Hon. Zephania Mogunde
Anyieni is one of the veteran Ki-
sii politicians. He was born in Janu-
ary 1935 to Heradion Mogunde
Anyieni and Peninah Nyamanyi.
He attended Isbania High School
and later Bugema Missionary
College in Uganda for his educa-
tion. Anyieni started his political
career in 1958 by attempting
to be elected to the legislative
council. He served as the first MP
at independence in 1963 in the
then Majoge-Bassi Constituency.
He was a resolute polititian who
resigned as a matter of principle sii Senator, Christopher Mogere
from the ruling party KANU to join Obure. The charismatic politician
the late Jaramogi Odinga’s oppo- spent much of his time in and out
sition party KPU at a time when
people hardly dared resign.Conse-
of Parliament championing the
cause of soil conservation and af-
quently, he lost his seat in 1966. forestation. He passed on in March
2014.
Anyieni reclaimed his seat in 1974
and served until 1979, before
he was dethroned by current Ki-
 Kisii County Government 31

PROF. JOSEPH NYASANI
(Deceased)
T he late Prof. Joseph Nyasani was
a renowned scholar who made a
mark in academia and media. Born
in Kisii in 1936, Prof. Nyasani want-
ed to become a Catholic priest but
when he grew up, his destiny took
a different direction and he ended
up becoming a philosophy profes-
sor and a TV personality fluent in
numerous languages including Eng-
lish, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin,
Kiswahili and Ekegusii. He actually
trained as a priest but quit on the
eve of his ordination.
He is remembered for breaking a
300-year record by writing his dis-
sertation in Latin while doing his
doctorate in Germany in 1963. At
the time of his death, he had pub-
lished 41 titles and authored sev-
eral books in philosophy especially
metaphysics, logic, cosmology and
legal philosophy.
Despite scoring many firsts and ris-
ing to the highest pinnacle of aca-
demia, his humble mien was con-
founded many. He had a brief stint
at the UN secretariat in New York
as a political affairs officer in 1971.
While working at the University of
Nairobi as a lecturer, he worked
part time as a news anchor at the
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
(KBC) TV, the only television station
at the time.
He remains an inspiration to many
through decades of writing, aca-
demic and media work. “He was
the first person to tell me that phi-
losophy was the study of reality
in its histotality,” recalls Governor
James Ongwae – his student. He
thought that everyone at univer-
sity regardless of their disciplines
should study philosophy in order to
arrive at logical answers.
Prof. Nyasani survived a gun attack
outside his home in 1994 in which
a bullet fired above his eye went
through his skull. He passed on in
February 2016 at 79. He had been
living with the bullet lodged in his
skull for 21 years.

MRS. CLAIRE KWAMBOKA
OMANGA
C laire’s public life was not a
walk in the park. She attended
Nyabururu Primary School before
proceeding to Loreto Girls, where
she attained Division II in her Form
Four examinations. She married
the late Andrew Omanga in 1961.
She has fought many battles in a
male-dominated political world.
Her ambition is to ensure that the
girl-child gets better education. As
the first woman Mayor of Kisii, she
was instrumental in fighting for
the girl-child to remain in school.
She has also contributed her re-
sources to improving the educa-
tion standards in Gusii. Her love
for education is seen through a
children’s storybook she wrote,
The Girl Who Couldn’t Keep a Se-
cret.
She defied odds to be elected
Councillor for Bobaracho Ward
in the early 1990s, eventually be-
coming Kisii Mayor, a first in the
region. She made a stab at a par-
liamentary seat but was not suc-
cessful. She has served as Nyan-
siongo Tea Factory Company Board
chairperson, yet another first for a
woman in Kisii.

HELLEN ONSANDO OBIRI
I n 2012, four-time 3,000m de-
fending champion Meseret Defar
was on her way to a fifth straight
world title at the World Indoor
Track and Field championships in
Istanbul, Turkey.
In the final lap, little known Hellen
Onsando Obiri pursued and pulled
level with Defar before zooming
away from the Ethiopian great to
arrive home at 8:37.16. The corpo-
ral with the Kenya Air Force could
not believe she had beaten a world
champion Defar who settled for
silver.
Born in December 1989 at Ny-
acheki in Bobasi, Hellen is a mid-
dle and long-distance runner. She
holds the world and African record
in 1,500m.
Obiri attended Ekeonga Primary
School before joining Riruta Cen-
tral Secondary School in Nairobi
after being sponsored by a well-
wisher who had spotted her talent.
In 2008, she was recruited to join
the armed forces, thanks to her
athletic prowess and was posted to
Nanyuki Air Base where she works.
It is while at the military that she
became established, taking part in
the world military games in Rio De
Janeiro, Brazil where she finished
in third position.
Career highlights: Finished in 11th
position in 1500m at the 13th IAAF
World Championships in athletics
in Daegu, South Korea; finished in
first position (8:37.16) to win gold
at the IAAF World Indoor Champi-
onships in Istanbul, Turkey; ranked
14th in women’s 1,500m and 101
women’s overall ranking in the
world. Her personal best in 300m
is 8:35.35 that she recorded in Bir-
mingham, Great Britain on Febru-
ary 18, 2012.

HENRY MOTEGO
B orn on 21 May 1964, Henry
Motego is one of the lethal
strikers Kenya has ever produced
in the recent past. He electrified
the football scene in Kenya with
his ball artistry and courage. He
is remembered as a stocky, fast
player who could characteristi-
cally waltz past defences, before
unleashing powerful rockets past
opposition keepers.
Such were Henry Motego’s exploits
against Tunisia in 1992 — that saw
Kenya knock out the north African
giants in qualifying rounds to sail
through to the Africa Cup of Na-
tions competition after a long spell
in the cold.
Motego began his career in 1983
at Boitang’are Primary School
and was spotted by Shabana FC
coaches during the national school
games and drafted him.
He played for Shabana while still
a student at Cardinal Otunga High
School, Mosocho and Itierio High
School, between 1983 and 1987.
He helped Shabana gain promo-
tion to the Kenyan top-tier league
in 1988. He played for Harambee
Stars with the likes of J.J Masiga,
Bobby Ogolla, Ambrose Ayoyi and
the late Sammy Onyango Jogoo.
Following his success at Shabana,
he was signed by Kenya Brewer-
ies Limited, starting as a clerk and
doubling as their club’s striker un-
til 2005 when he was retrenched.
He also served as Tusker FC coach,
winning the league in 2005.
Motego signed for Omani league
side Al-Oruba SC for two seasons
from 1991 to 1992 and thereafter
returned to play for Kenya Brewer-
ies until 2000 when he retired.
Motego made several appear-
ances for the Kenya national foot-
ball team and played for Kenya at
the 1988, 1990 and 1992 Africa
Cup of Nations finals. He currently
works in the Kisii County Govern-
ment’s sports department.

YOBES ONDIEKI
Y obes Ondieki was a man of
many firsts. The 5,000m run-
ner won the World Championships’
gold medal in Tokyo in 1991. In the
same year, he set a temporary Ke-
nyan 5,000m record of 13:01.82 in
Zurich.
He participated in the Olympic fi-
nals of 1988 and 1992, but did not
win a medal. He is the first ever
athlete to break the 27:00 mark in
the 10,000m race in 1993.
Ondieki attended Iowa State Uni-
versity, where he captured four Big
Eight conference titles, three of
them in cross country. He received
All-America accolades six times in
Iowa State.
Ondieki was known for his de-
manding training sessions and his
ability to run constantly at a high
pace. In 1993, he became the first
athlete to break the 27-minute
barrier over 10,000 metres, when
he clocked 26:58.38 at the Bislett
Games in Oslo on July 10. His time
broke the mark set by Richard Che-
limo only five days earlier in Stock-
holm by over nine seconds.
From 1989 to 1993, Ondieki was
ranked top five in the world in
the 5,000m race by Track & Field
News, with his number one rank-
ing coming in 1991. In 1993, Track
& Field News ranked him number
one in the world in the 10,000 me-
tre race

ELKANA ONG’ESA,HSC
O ng’esa is an internationally
renowned stone sculptor who
hails from Tabaka in South Mo-
girango. He was born in 1944 in
a family of craftsmen, a heritage
he developed to become Kenya’s
most recognised artist.
Ong’esa is well known for his
sculptures and has exhibited his
works around the world. He is
perhaps best known for his seven-
tonne ‘Bird of Peace’ (Enyamuch-
era) sculpture that adorns the en-
trance of UNESCO headquarters in
Paris, where it has remained since
1980.
The sculpture, which took him two
years between 1976 and 1978 to
build from soapstone, is an ab-
stract representation of a bird that
symbolises peace.
His other carving, ‘Dancing Birds,’
is in permanent display at the US
Embassy in Nairobi. It symbolises his Tabaka home, Ong’esa has suc-
peace, happiness and international cessfully organised three editions
cooperation.
Ong’esa studies fine art at universi-
of the African Stones Talk Inter-
national Sculpture Symposium in
ties in Kenya and Uganda and his Kisii, where local and international
postgraduate thesis at McGill Uni- stone sculptors interact and ex-
versity in Canada was on ‘East Af- change cultural experiences.
rican Stone Carving in Kenya.’ He
has taught creative arts in various
institutions, both locally and inter-
nationally.
Working with visual artists from
32 Kisii County Government

See you in Kisii

County

I
t has been our pleasure to have you on this
great journey to showcase the beauty and
productivity of Kisii County and present
to you the opportunities that abound
in this progressive land.

Our doors are always open and

our team is more than willing to
respond to your questions or
clarify any matter that may arise.
We also take this opportunity
to welcome you to our
beautiful county explore
the culture and warmth of
our hard working people.
Karibu Kisii and enjoy the
beauty, cultural diversity and
investment opportunities in this great
county as you delight in the hospitality
of our hardworking people.

There is so much we would have

wished to share with you, but
unfortunately we don’t have the space
on this platform to capture everything
in one place. How about you joining and
engaging us on social media?

Together we will make Kisii great!

Au revoir!

Twitter: @KisiiCountygov
Facebook: @KisiiCounty
Website: www.kisii.go.ke
Email: info@kisii.go.ke
Phone: +254 709 727 000